Researchers at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital believe that the rapid blood test could save the lives of hundreds of babies a year.
The study, published in American Heart Association journal Circulation, suggests that testing the level of the protein placental growth factor (PIGF) in pregnant women before 35 weeks can accurately identify 96 per cent of those who will need to have their baby delivered within 14 days.
According to the report, a low level of PIGF found in the blood would indicate severe pre-eclampsia, in which case the average time in which the baby should be delivered would be under two weeks, irrespective of how developed it is.
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