PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - J. H. Barber
AU  - E. T. Robinson
TI  - The diagnosis of pregnancy in general practice
DP  - 1975 Jul 01
TA  - The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
PG  - 511--519
VI  - 25
IP  - 156
4099  - http://bjgp.org/content/25/156/511.short
4100  - http://bjgp.org/content/25/156/511.full
SO  - J R Coll Gen Pract1975 Jul 01; 25
AB  - In 1,631 pregnancies presenting to general practitioners, the reliability of three proprietary slide tests for the diagnosis of pregnancy was assessed both against the outcome and against the results of hospital tests done at the same time. When all patients were considered the reliability of such tests done in the surgery was 85 per cent against a 90 per cent for hospital tests and when only patients who were more than 42 days pregnant were included, the accuracy figure rose to 87 per cent in general practice and 91 per cent in hospital. The time delay before the results of the hospital test was assessed showed a mean of three days which is considered unacceptable if there are urgent clinical reasons for the test being done. The doctors participating listed their reasons for doing tests and in 54 per cent of cases urgent confirmation or otherwise of the pregnancy was considered essential by either doctor or patient. In the remaining 46 per cent this confirmation was considered simply helpful rather than essential. The study showed that the accuracy of the test, when delegated to a nurse, was acceptable and that in a proportion of three to one the participating doctors considered that the test was of value and worthwhile in patient care.