Test your own proteinuria during pregnancy in order to determine if your results are accurate. 172 pregnant women participated in the study. The spot protein-creatinine ratio (PCR) was estimated in the laboratory for pregnant women who self-tested in-clinic using visually readable dipsticks. The second index test included the use of an automated colorimeter as well as the testing by antenatal healthcare professionals. As a comparison to the primary reference test (PCR), sensitivities, specificities, negative predictive values and positive predictive values of self-testing, healthcare professionals, and colorimetric tests were calculated. In total, 167/172 (97%) of the samples had sufficient data for analysis. Based on a comparison between self-testing and PCR, self-testing had a sensitivity of 0.71 (95% confidence interval [C.I]) and a specificity of 0.78 (95% C.I). Healthcare professionals and colorimetric readers both performed tests with similar sensitivity and specificity: 0.62 (95% C.I) and 0.67 (95% C.I), respectively; specificity 0.77 (95% CI) and 0.72 (95% CI). An antenatal healthcare professional can read a dipstick for urinary protein with similar accuracy as pregnant women can. In contrast to some previous studies, automated colorimetric testing did not show significant differences. When used in conjunction with self-monitoring in pregnancy, selftesting can play a role in keeping track of one's health.

Pregnancy, Diagnostic accuracy study, women, hypertension, self-testing.