Israel Introduces Blood Test to Assess Preterm Birth Risk Mid-Pregnancy

Israel has launched a new blood test called preTRM that can estimate the risk of preterm birth as early as 18 to 20 weeks into pregnancy. This test addresses a major challenge in obstetrics, as many preterm births occur unexpectedly in women with otherwise normal pregnancies who show no warning signs or symptoms. In Israel, about one in every 15 babies is born prematurely, a leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality, often requiring extended neonatal intensive care and long-term medical follow-up.

The preTRM test is designed for women carrying a single fetus and involves a simple blood sample to measure the ratio of two proteins. Combined with a specialized algorithm, it provides a personalized risk assessment rather than a definitive diagnosis. A high-risk result does not guarantee preterm delivery but offers doctors valuable information to tailor monitoring and treatment accordingly.

Extensive international studies, including the PRIME trial, demonstrated that women identified as high-risk who received targeted care experienced a 53% reduction in births before 32 weeks, a 35% reduction before 35 weeks, and a 22% decrease in newborns requiring neonatal intensive care. Currently, the test is available privately at Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Medical Center. Sharaf Diagnostics, holding distribution rights in Israel, is collaborating with additional medical centers and Clalit Health Services to evaluate the test’s impact within Israel’s healthcare system.

Dr. Asaf Gertler, CEO of Sharaf Diagnostics, emphasized the test’s potential to transform prenatal care by identifying at-risk pregnancies earlier than ever before, including those previously considered low-risk. He highlighted the significant economic benefits, noting that reducing severe preterm births could save hundreds of millions of shekels annually and improve family quality of life. Professor Simcha Yagel, a leading Israeli maternal-fetal medicine expert advising the company, added that early risk identification allows for better pregnancy management but stressed the test is a risk assessment tool to complement clinical judgment, not replace it.