Table 2

Study procedures and timing of the molecular signature in pregnancy cohort13

ScreeningBaselineFollow-upUnwell episodeBirthPost partum
Viable singletons pregnancyX    
Obstetric ultrasound*XXX  
Eligibility assessmentX    
Written informed consentX   
DemographicsX   
Medical and obstetric historyX   
Concomitant medicationsXXXXX
Physical examinationXXXXX
Universal pregnancy screening, for example, thick and thin blood film for malaria diagnosis, CBC and OGTT†X  (X)†
Sample maternal 100 µL capillary blood‡XX§XX**X††
Sample vaginal swab, stool specimen and 24 hours food recallX‡‡X‡‡XXX§§
Acceptability surveyX  X
Sample saliva X¶¶X
Sample placenta, cord blood and maternal venous blood   X

  • *Fetal growth scans on a 6-weekly basis.

  • †OGTT at 24–26 weeks of gestation; repeated at 12 weeks post partum if positive during pregnancy.

  • ‡50 µL for whole blood transcriptome analysis and 50 µL for haematocrit.

  • §2-weekly; if the woman attended all expected 15 visits total blood is 1.5 mL.

  • ¶If the woman attended for an unwell visit, an additional 100 µL of blood were drawn.

  • **If delivery at SMRU clinic, then an additional 100 µL of blood were drawn.

  • ††At 1, 2 and 3 months postpartum, including maternal haematocrit.

  • ‡‡In each trimester of pregnancy: 8–14, 20–22 and 34–35 weeks.

  • §§Vaginal swab samples at 4–6 weeks and at 3 months.

  • ¶¶At 24–26 weeks of gestation.

  • CBC, complete blood count; OGTT, oral glucose tolerance test; SMRU, Shoklo Malaria Research Unit.