Biophysical profile

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title: "Biophysical profile" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["tests-during-pregnancy"] description: "Prenatal ultrasound evaluation of fetal well-being" topic_path: "general/tests-during-pregnancy" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biophysical_profile" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Prenatal ultrasound evaluation of fetal well-being ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox diagnostic"]

Field	Value
name	Biophysical profile
image	Image:Ultrasound Scan ND 084.jpg
purpose	prenatal evaluation ultrasound
synonyms	BPP
DiseasesDB
ICD10
MedlinePlus
eMedicine
OPS301
LOINC
::

| name = Biophysical profile | image = Image:Ultrasound Scan ND 084.jpg| | alt = | caption = | pronounce = | purpose =prenatal evaluation ultrasound | test of = | based on = | synonyms = BPP | reference_range = | calculator = | DiseasesDB = | ICD10 = | ICD9 = | ICDO = | MedlinePlus = | eMedicine = | MeshID = | OPS301 = | LOINC = A biophysical profile (BPP) is a prenatal ultrasound evaluation of fetal well-being involving a scoring system, with the score being termed Manning's score. It is often done when a non-stress test (NST) is non reactive, or for other obstetrical indications.

The "modified biophysical profile" consists of the NST and amniotic fluid index only.

Procedure

The BPP has five components: four ultrasound (US) assessments and an NST. The NST evaluates fetal heart rate and response to fetal movement. The five discrete biophysical variables are:

1. Fetal heart rate
2. Fetal breathing
3. Fetal movement
4. Fetal tone
5. Amniotic fluid volume

::data[format=table]

Parameter	Normal (2 points)	Abnormal (0 points)
NST/Reactive FHR	At least two accelerations in 20 minutes	Less than two accelerations to satisfy the test in 20 minutes
US: Fetal breathing movements	url=http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/405454-overview	title=Biophysical Profile, Ultrasound: eMedicine Radiology
US: Fetal activity / gross body movements	At least three discrete body/limb movement in 30 minutes (episodes of active continuous movement considered a single movement.	Less than three or two movements
US: Fetal muscle tone	At least one episode of active extension with return to flexion of fetal limb(s) or trunk, opening and closing of hand considered to be normal tone.	Either slow extension with return to partial flexion or movement of limb in full extension or absent fetal movement.
US: Qualitative AFV/AFI	At least one vertical pocket 2 cm in the vertical axis or AFI of 5 cm	Largest vertical pocket
::

Use of vibroacoustic stimulation to accelerate evaluation has been described.

Interpretation

Each assessment is graded either 0 or 2 points and then added up to yield a number between 0 and 10. A BPP of 8 or 10 is generally considered reassuring. A BPP normally is not performed before the second half of a pregnancy since fetal movements do not occur in the first half. The presence of these biophysical variables implies absence of significant central nervous system hypoxemia/acidemia at the time of testing. By comparison, a compromised fetus typically exhibits loss of accelerations of the fetal heart rate (FHR), decreased body movement and breathing, hypotonia, and, less acutely, decreased amniotic fluid volume.

::data[format=table title="Recommended management based on the biophysical profile''Intrauterine Growth Retardation''. ROBERT C. VANDENBOSCHE, M.D., and JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER, D.O., Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Am Fam Physician. 1998 Oct 15;58(6):1384-1390. [http://www.aafp.org/afp/1998/1015/p1384.html] {{cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/family_medicine/ResidencyProgram/IUGR%20Article11.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513022621/http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/family_medicine/residencyprogram/iugr%20article11.pdf |archive-date=2013-05-13 |access-date=2012-08-02}}"]

BPP	Recommended management	≤2	4	6	≥ 8
::

References

References

1. (2008-01-23). "Biophysical profile for fetal assessment in high risk pregnancies". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
2. 9788184480641. Length: 261 pages
3. "Biophysical Profile, Ultrasound: eMedicine Radiology".
4. (June 2005). "Using fetal acoustic stimulation to shorten the biophysical profile". J Clin Ultrasound.
5. Mari, Etwell. (2018-04-17). "Decreased Fetal Movements are an Important Red Flag in Second Half of Pregnancy: A Case Report of Baby Saved by Mother's Attention to Fetal Movements". Current Opinion in Gynecology and Obstetrics.
6. "Archived copy".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::