Volatile Organic Compound Technology Can Predict Preterm Birth

Volatile organic compound technology can be used to predict preterm birth with an accuracy of 73%. The device is trained to detect bacterial vaginosis.

Highlights:

Volatile organic compound (VOC) technology can predict preterm birth in high-risk asymptomatic women
VOC technique identifies chemical vapor patterns that indicate bacterial vaginosis
VOC technique has an accuracy of 73% when tested closer to the time of delivery
VOC technique can significantly improve healthcare support for women during pregnancy and birth

Preterm births can be predicted in high-risk asymptomatic women by using volatile organic compound (VOC) technology. This technology has 73% accuracy when tested closer to the time of delivery.

VOC technology detects volatile compounds present in the vagina during a condition known as bacterial vaginosis by using vaginal swabs.

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‘Preterm births in high-risk asymptomatic women can be predicted with an accuracy of 73% using volatile organic compound (VOC) technology. VOC analysis has the potential to be used as a predictive tool.’
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What is the Situation of Preterm Birth?
Preterm birth is considered as the leading cause of death in children less than 5 years old.

Preterm birth is a syndrome which is characterized by multiple factors such as infection, vascular disease, inflammation and uterine overdistention.

This complex nature of preterm birth makes its prediction hard. Presently, there are only a few accurate tools to predict preterm birth.

Vaginal Progesterone Can Reduce Preterm Birth
Vaginal progesterone is effective in reducing preterm birth and neonatal morbidity and mortality in women with a mid-trimester sonographic short cervix.

What is the Relationship between Bacterial Vaginosis and Preterm Birth?

The relationship between bacterial vaginosis and preterm birth have been known for many years.

Risk of Preterm Birth Increased by Exposure to Air Pollution
Study identifies link between maternal exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM2.5) and preterm birth.

In bacterial vaginosis, the bacteria present in the vagina become imbalanced. There is a lack of lactobacilli and an increase in other organisms.

The presence of bacterial vaginosis is generally associated with an increased risk of preterm birth. However, treating it doesn’t reduce the risk.

Ultrasound Techniques Give Warning Signs of Preterm Births: Study
A new study has found that ultrasound can be used to examine cervix tissue and improve diagnostics, which is essential for predicting preterm births.

Technology used by the Researchers to Detect Preterm Birth

The researchers used a technique called volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis .

VOCs are designed to monitor airborne chemicals. The scientists ‘trained’ the device using machine-learning techniques to identify the chemical vapor patterns from preterm birth using vaginal swabs.

Volatile organic compound analysis technology works by separating vapor molecules by using two techniques. First, the technique pre-separates molecules according to their reaction with a stationary phase coating (gas-chromatography).

Secondly, it measures the mobility of the vapor particles in a high-electric field (Ion Mobility Spectrometer).

The machine is ‘trained’ to spot patterns that are signs of bacterial vaginosis.

VOC technology reflects both the microbiome and the host response. Whereas, other techniques usually focus on a specific biomarker.

What are the Results Obtained by the Researchers?

Vaginal swabs taken from various pregnant women attending a preterm prevention clinic were analyzed.

These women were asymptomatic with a prior history of preterm births or a medical condition that has a higher risk of preterm birth.

Vaginal swabs were taken from 216 patients. Swabs were taken during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

The first test had an accuracy of 66%. A second test, closer to the time of the delivery had a better accuracy of 73%.

The test results mean that about 7/10 women with a positive test had a preterm delivery. In comparison, 9/10 women with a negative test delivered normally.

The lead author Dr. Lauren Lacy suggested that, even though the test taken early during the pregnancy was less accurate, it could allow possible interventions to reduce the risk of preterm delivery.

In summary, VOC technology has a potential to be used as a predictive tool for preterm birth.

The authors think the next stage of research would focus on storing a small VOC device in the hospital to analyze samples. They hope that it could eventually be developed into a test that could be used in a labor ward triage.

Source-Medindia