Salivary progesterone as indicator of delivery
During pregnancy salivary progesterone levels increase, reach a steady-state and then decrease sharply two day before delivery. Monitoring of salivary progesterone from about two weeks before the expected date of delivery will give information about the real date. Development of a biosensor based on a specific antibody and a signalling entity, optionally in a PDA-format, may be used to timely inform midwife or obstetrician. The only action the pregnant woman has to perform is the collection of a small amount of saliva each day and put it on the sensor device. A further option is to include a sensoring part for salivary estriol, a hormone recognized as an indicator of fetal wellbeing. Use of such a biosensor, optionally as over-the-counter apparatus, may greatly improve the health of mother and child, e.g. in preterm delivery or threatened births, such as in the HELLP syndrome.
·