Biomarker Test Cuts NICU Admissions for First-Time Mothers

The findings, published in The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, focused on 1,783 nulliparous participants. Traditional risk assessment tools rely heavily on prior pregnancy history, leaving first-time mothers—who account for four in ten U.S. births—largely underserved by standard screening. The study suggests that biomarker-guided care provides a scalable alternative to these conventional methods.

Beyond the reduction in NICU stays, the data showed a 30% relative decrease in severe composite morbidity compared to the blinded control group. The study protocol utilized interventions such as progesterone, low-dose aspirin, and structured care management. Dr. Anthony C. Sciscione, the study's lead author, noted that the biomarker approach allows clinicians to overcome the historical challenge of evaluating risk in patients with no previous birth record.

Sera Prognostics, the company behind the PreTRM platform, emphasizes that early risk stratification is critical for reducing the high costs associated with preterm birth, which affects infants born before 37 weeks of gestation. With 28 first-time pregnancies needing screening to prevent one NICU admission, the researchers argue that this precision medicine approach could serve as a more effective standard of care in diverse clinical settings.