The fetal non-stress test.

The non-stress test has become a widely accepted method of screening for fetal distress in high-risk pregnancies. The procedure is technically simple, noninvasive, and when reactive (negative), a highly reliable predictor of fetal well-being for up to one week. This paper outlines the indications, performance, interpretation, and limits of the non-stress test as a standard evaluative tool for use by family physicians.