Biophysical profile

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

A biophysical profile is a prenatal ultrasound evaluation of fetal wellbeing, involving a scoring system.

• The biophysical profile (BPP) has 5 components: 4 ultrasound (US) assessments and a nonstress test (NST).

• The US assessments are:

• amniotic fluid volume,
• fetal tone,
• fetal activity, and
• fetal breathing movements.

• Each component is graded either 0 or 2 points, and then added up to yield a number between 0 and 10.

• A BPP of 8 to 10 is generally considered reassuring.

A BPP normally is not performed before the second half of a pregnancy (fetal breathing movements do not occur in the first half.)

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