[The clinical significance of the oxytocin challenge test (author's transl)].

In order to test the function of fetoplacental unit 398 oxytocin challenge tests were performed on 280 patients who had exceeded the calculated date of delivery or where factors of risk were involved. 8% of the tests performed showed a positive result, 1% was suspect and 91% were negative. The figure of 20% of false-positive test results was relatively high compared to only 1.6% in the case of false-negative test results. In cases where the calculated date of delivery has been exceeded, pregnant women who showed a negative test result are kept under observation by us as out-patients, whilst patients whose oxytocin challenge test was positive are kept under close observation in hospital.