New Onsite Preeclampsia Blood Tests Identify High-Risk Pregnancies Within Hours at PVHMC

A new laboratory test at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center (PVHMC) that identifies hospitalized pregnant patients at high risk of developing severe preeclampsia has already diagnosed patients at risk in its first weeks in use. Preeclampsia is a potentially life-threatening pregnancy complication that can endanger both mother and baby. The condition affects thousands of pregnancies each year.

"Ultimately, I believe this test will help us reduce maternal and neonatal complications related to preeclampsia and improve the health of moms and babies throughout our community," said PVHMC maternal-fetal medicine specialist Richard Burwick, MD, MPH, who was also part of the research trial that led to FDA approval of the breakthrough test.

Preeclampsia is a condition when blood pressure becomes so dangerously elevated that organ damage results. According to the Preeclampsia Foundation, rates of the condition have increased by 25 percent in the United States over the past two decades and it remains a leading cause of maternal and infant illness and death. Testing is seen as an important safeguard for mother and child.

While the test can be sent to outside laboratories, results often take four to five days to return, delaying critical clinical decisions. The limited availability of in-hospital testing is due to the specialized laboratory equipment required, significant implementation costs, and the need for maternal-fetal medicine specialists trained to interpret the results. PVHMC has the specialized equipment and trained specialists onsite.

"We are now getting results back the same day, often within just a few hours of seeing the patient," said Dr. Burwick. "This gives us an immediate understanding of the severity of the patient's condition and whether mom and baby are at high risk for complications from preeclampsia. In some cases, the test also tells us that a patient is at low risk and can be monitored safely outside of the hospital."

PVHMC is one of California's busiest maternity centers, delivering more than 5,000 babies each year and continues to invest in advanced prenatal care technologies that support safer pregnancies and healthier outcomes. To learn more about safe mother and baby care at PVHMC, visit pvhmc.org/maternity.