Abstract
Summary An open study was performed to evaluate the efficiency of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 as a marker for the detection of pre-labour rupture of membranes and to assess whether it aided the subsequent clinical management. One hundred women between 24 and 42 weeks' gestation with a history suggestive of pre-labour rupture of membranes were studied. There were 11 false positive and no false negative results and the sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 89% respectively. The presence of infection, blood or semen did not interfere with the accuracy of the results.