The COMPLETE Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A study to evaluate the normal concentrations of maternal plasma lactate, serum C-reactive protein and procalcitonin following normal parturition in low risk pregnancies.
IRAS ID
121673
Contact name
Katrine E Orr
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Tayside Health Board
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 30 days
Research summary
Infection is the leading cause of death in mothers following childbirth in the UK. Efforts are being made to address this across the UK. One way to assess for the risk of infection is to measure for chemicals in the blood such as C Reactive Protein (CRP) and lactate. However the normal ranges for these following labour are not known, so it is possible that some women are receiving treatment for infection based on values that have been determined in the general population rather than following labour. This study aims to establish the normal reference range for these two blood markers in women who have undergone a normal pregnancy and vaginal delivery.
In addition we will also investigate another blood chemical that is not currently measured in labour at all but is used to investigate for infection in seriously unwell non pregnant patients. This chemical is called Procalcitonin, it can be measured using blood taken at the same time as CRP and lactate. If it is not raised by labour, it would be very useful as a screening tool for the investigation of suspected infection in pregnant and labouring women, and may supersede the use of CRP and lactate.
We will recruit 120 women attending the Dundee Midwifery Unit and take a single blood sample of approximately 10 ml within an approximately hour of their delivery to find out if these results are raised and if so then a reference range can be established.
REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 1
REC reference
14/ES/1083
Date of REC Opinion
24 Nov 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion