Fetal acceleration test.

Abstract

Five hundred thirty-one fetal acceleration tests were performed on 112 normal subjects at various gestational ages ranging from 22 and 41 weeks. Analysis of the results revealed that the frequency of nonreactive tests was directly related to gestational age, ranging from 56% in the 22- to 25-week group to 6% in the 38- to 41-week group. During the same period 919 fetal acceleration tests were performed on 339 high-risk subjects. When these were divided into groups by gestational age, the frequency of nonreactive tests did not differ significantly from that in the normal group of subjects. These dats suggest three possible conclusions: (1) that the high frequency of false positive results does not justify the performance of utilization of such tests before 30 weeks' gestational age; (2) that nonreactivity is probably a function of gestational age rather than an indication of fetal jeopardy; (3) that the frequency of "false positive" tests among the normal population may invalidate reliance on such tests for management of subjects in a high-risk category.