Objective

: To analyze qualitative human beta chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) as a diagnostic method for premature rupture of membranes (PROM).

Methods

: Prospective case-control study, with a non-probabilistic sample by convenience, of 90 women between 24 and 40 weeks of gestation divided into two groups: study group (45 patients with clinical diagnosis of PROM) and control group (45 patients hospitalized without PROM). Vaginal lavage or aspirate was performed to qualitatively determine β-hCG in commercial β-hCG measurement kits with threshold of 25 mUI/mL as well as nitrazine paper test.

Results

: The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for the β-hCG-25 test were 77.8% (95% CI, 63.7-87.5), 82.2% (95% CI, 68.7-90.7), 81.4%, and 78.7%, respectively. Diagnostic accuracy was 80.0% (0.6 Landis & Koch kappa index) versus 75.6% for nitrazine pH-metry.

Conclusions

: The qualitative β-hCG test showed a representative diagnostic value and can corroborate the early diagnosis of PROM, recommending it as a simple, rapid, accessible and low-cost test.

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