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Implementation of Placental Growth Factor Testing for Suspected Preeclampsia: Lessons Learned from 3 Canadian
Ana Werlang1, Harrison Banner2, Joshua Buse3
1Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON; University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON.
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada : JOGC = Journal D'Obstetrique Et Gynecologie Du Canada : JOGC
|June 15, 2026
Summary
Placental growth factor (PlGF) testing aids pre-eclampsia assessment. Canadian centres implemented different PlGF assays, requiring tailored strategies for successful integration into clinical care.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Clinical Chemistry
- Biomarker Development
Background:
- Growing evidence supports placental growth factor (PlGF) testing for pre-eclampsia assessment.
- Canadian tertiary centres are integrating biochemical markers for pre-eclampsia diagnosis and risk stratification.
- Recent implementations include serum PlGF, point-of-care PLGF, and the sFlt-1:PlGF ratio in various hospitals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the implementation of PlGF testing across three Canadian tertiary care centres.
- To comparatively examine key implementation components: technical aspects, reference value approaches, interpretation, clinical application, operational considerations, and cost.
- To identify factors influencing successful adoption of PlGF testing.
Main Methods:
- A parallel, comparative approach was used to examine PlGF testing implementation.
- Key components analyzed included assay technicalities, reference value strategies (absolute cut-offs vs. gestational age-specific centiles), clinical interpretation, operational processes, and cost implications.
- Data were gathered from three distinct Canadian tertiary care centres.
Main Results:
- Different PlGF assays and reference value approaches were implemented across the centres.
- Variations in reference range interpretation and early clinical application were observed.
- Successful implementation necessitates adoption strategies tailored to the local institutional context.
Conclusions:
- PlGF testing implementation varies across Canadian tertiary centres.
- Tailored adoption strategies are crucial for the successful integration of PlGF testing into clinical practice.
- Further research may explore long-term clinical and economic impacts.
