POINT-OF-CARE TESTING
5 Duhig KE, Myers J, Seed PT, et al. Placental growth factor testing to assess women with suspected pre-eclampsia: a multicentre, pragmatic, stepped-wedge cluster-randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2019;393(10183):1807-1818. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)33212-4
6 Cerdeira AS, O’Sullivan J, Ohuma EO, et al. Randomized Interventional Study on Prediction of Preeclampsia/ Eclampsia in Women With Suspected Preeclampsia: INSPIRE. Hypertension. 2019;74(4):983-990. doi:10.1161/ HYPERTENSIONAHA.119.12739
7 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. PLGF-based testing to help diagnose suspected preterm pre- eclampsia. Diagnostics guidance DG49. (NICE, 2022)
www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ dg49
A Sierra Leone-based study confirmed that POC PlGF testing predicted most maternal and perinatal adverse outcomes.
that enhances risk stratification and enables timely, informed management of patients.11
Further to the ability to diagnose and
predict development of pre-eclampsia, a prospective study by the same group at King’s College London has evaluated the Lepzi PlGF whole blood tests’ ability to predict maternal and neonatal outcomes in hypertensive women (24+0 to 36+6 weeks’ gestation) when used out of the laboratory in lower- and middle-income countries. In Freetown, Sierra Leone, the test was used with a threshold of >90pg/ mL as cut off for risk of adverse maternal or perinatal outcome. The group found that the test had 100% sensitivity and 100% NPV for a composite maternal outcome (death or eclampsia) and composite perinatal outcome (stillbirth, neonatal death before discharge) for tests performed <34 weeks’ gestation. In this population, high maternal and perinatal adverse outcomes are common (prevalence 17% and 34% respectively), and the test detected significantly more adverse events with a PIGF ≤90pg/mL.12 Compared to previous studies that have informed UK national guidelines, this study was performed in a setting with a high prevalence of maternal and perinatal adverse outcomes, confirming that point of care PlGF testing using the Lepzi PIGF test can predict most of these events, and importantly also identify those unlikely to have adverse outcomes due to placental dysfunction.
These studies reinforce the potential for point-of-care PlGF testing to transform care for women during pregnancy; not only in high-income hospitals but also in low-resource environments where early intervention is most urgently needed.
52
From evidence to everyday practice Pre-eclampsia remains one of the most unpredictable and dangerous complications of pregnancy. But using PlGF – and innovations like the Lepzi PlGF whole blood test – we now have the tools to detect it earlier, intervene faster, save lives and prevent serious adverse outcomes. However, equity in access remains
a hurdle. For this innovation to truly transform care, PlGF testing must be readily available, rapidly actionable, and integrated into frontline practice to meet women where they are.
References 1 Chappell LC, Cluver CA, Kingdom J,
Tong S. Pre-eclampsia. Lancet. 2021;398(10297):341-354. doi:10.1016/ S0140-6736(20)32335-7
2 Bramham K, Seed PT, Lightstone L, et al. Diagnostic and predictive biomarkers for pre-eclampsia in patients with established hypertension and chronic kidney disease. Kidney Int. 2016;89(4):874-885. doi:10.1016/
j.kint.2015.10.012
3 Chappell LC, Duckworth S, Seed PT, et al. Diagnostic accuracy of placental growth factor in women with suspected preeclampsia: a prospective multicenter study. Circulation. 2013;128(19):2121-2131. doi:10.1161/ CIRCULATIONAHA.113.003215
4 McCarthy FP, Gill C, Seed PT, Bramham K, Chappell LC, Shennan AH. Comparison of three commercially available placental growth factor-based tests in women with suspected preterm pre-eclampsia: the COMPARE study. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2019;53(1):62-67. doi:10.1002/ uog.19051
8 NHS England. Medical technology (MedTech) funding mandate and support. (NHSE, 2024)
www.england.nhs.uk/aac/ what-we-do/how-can-the-aac-help-me/ the-medtech-funding-mandate/
9 Scottish Health Technologies Group. Placental growth factor (PlGF)-based testing to help diagnose suspected preterm pre-eclampsia. (SHTG, 2023)
www.shtg.scot/media/2346/20220923- plgf-adaptation-final.pdf
10 MBRRACE-UK. Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care. (National Perinatal Epiderminology Unit, 2024)
www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/mbrrace-uk/ reports/maternal-reports/maternal- report-2020-2022
11 Rogers J, Hurrell A, Sahgal GR, et al. Rule-in and rule-out of pre-eclampsia using a novel point-of-care placental growth factor test. Pregnancy Hypertens. 2025;40:101215. doi:10.1016/j. preghy.2025.101215
12 Kuhrt K, Cole R, M’Bayoh M, et al. Point-of-Care Placental Growth Factor for Predicting Adverse Outcomes in Sierra Leone. Hypertension. Published online August 5, 2025. doi:10.1161/ HYPERTENSIONAHA.125.24526
Naomi Chant is Associate Director of Professional Diagnostics at Una Health. She has over fifteen years’ experience in laboratory and point-of-care diagnostics. Naomi holds a BSc in Biological Sciences from the University of Leicester and began her career as a Development Scientist at Thermo Fisher, before moving into commercial and strategic roles. Naomi now specialises in business development and the delivery of complex solutions across pathology and acute care.
Una Health 01782 575180
enquiries@unahealth.co.uk www.unahealth.co.uk
DECEMBER 2025
WWW.PATHOLOGYINPRACTICE.COM
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