text_1: Experimental Test May Warn of Premature Births
text_2: But we wish it had given even a little context of what’s done to help predict prematurity now instead of the vague quote from the researcher saying “the test ‘should be an important tool for an obstetrician who currently has no clue’ if premature birth is a possibility until it happens. …Physicians will ‘be able to use a simple blood test and then know that this woman is at increased risk or reduced risk of a preterm birth.’ ” As the story later made clear, this research is a long way away from being able to prove that claim. Most of our criteria were addressed in this story, yet more context and more independent expert perspective focusing on the data reported in the study would have been helpful. The most challenging fact – which wasn’t addressed – is that we lack interventions to use at and after 28 weeks that effectively prevent preterm birth.