Screening for gestational diabetes--analysis by screening criteria.

A previously studied glucose screening test for gestational diabetes was evaluated by six screening test criteria for appropriateness and cost effectiveness as a widespread screening tool. The test consisted of a serum glucose level in a pregnant patient one hour after 50 g of a glucose solution was ingested. Determination was made of price per case detected and of the number of cases missed when using this test or the oral glucose tolerance test on all prenatal patients or on a selected subset of patients. Screening all pregnant patients aged over 25 years for gestational diabetes with the one-hour glucose screening test is recommended. The need for further evaluation of the sensitivity of this screening test is discussed.