Accuracy of salivary estriol testing compared to traditional risk factor assessment in predicting preterm birth

Measuring estriol in a pregnant woman's saliva appears to be more accurate than the Creasy score. The Creasy score is used to determine whether a woman will deliver prematurely. Researchers compared this method with salivary estriol measurements in 601 pregnant women. Estriol is produced by the fetus, but crosses the placenta and can be found in the mother's blood, urine, and saliva. The level of estriol increases substantially three to five weeks before birth. If it happens before then, it is a potential sign of premature birth. Salivary estriol levels were more accurate in predicting premature birth than the Creasy score in this study.