Principles of nonstress testing in pregnancy

T Myrick1, D M Harper

  • 1Department of Community and Family Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, USA.

The nonstress test has been used to document second and third trimester fetal well-being for the past 40 years. It serves as a surrogate measure of the developing fetal autonomic nervous system. The nonstress test is more specific than sensitive, thus being a better indicator of fetal health than fetal illness. The test itself is read as reactive or nonreactive and may be repeated at intervals as a screen for high-risk maternal conditions.

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