Table 2.

RCOG criteria for interpretation of the admission test

Criteria for normal /reassuring trace:

At least 2 accelerations(>15 bpm for >15 sec) in 20 minutes

Base line heart rate 110-160 bpm

Baseline variability 5-25 bpm

Absence of decelerations

Moderate tachycardia (161-180 bpm)/ bradycardia (100-109bpm) but with preservation of baseline variability and accelerations.

Criteria of suspicious / equivocal trace*:

Reduced baseline variability (<5 bpm) for > 40 minutes but

< 90 minutes although baseline heart rate normal (110-160 bpm)

Variable decelerations (depth < 60 bpm and duration <60 seconds)

Early decelerations

Single prolonged deceleration < 3 minutes

Criteria of abnormal / pathological trace*:

Silent base line variability (< 5 bpm) pattern > 90 minutes

Base line heart rate > 180 bpm or < 100 bpm.

Late decelerations

Atypical / significant variable decelerations (depth > 60 bpm and duration >60 sec)

Prolonged bradycardia (drop of the foetal heart rate < 100 bpm for >

3 minutes or < 80 bpm for > 2minutes)

Sinusoidal pattern > 10 minutes

^*Absence of accelerations in an otherwise normal CTG tracing is of uncertain significance, bpm= beats per minute