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Biochemical Assessment of Fetal Lung Maturity
Author(s) -
Wysocki S. J.,
Dix R. D.,
Hähnel R.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-828x.1974.tb00525.x
Subject(s) - lecithin , amniotic fluid , fetus , chromatography , chemistry , maturity (psychological) , andrology , medicine , pregnancy , biology , psychology , developmental psychology , genetics
Summary: Three tests currently used in assessing fetal pulmonary maturity were carried out on 86 specimens of amniotic fluid. These were the foam test and determinations of lecithin concentration and lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio. An excellent correlation was found between the foam test and both lecithin concentration and L/S ratio. Twenty amniotic fluid samples collected within a week of delivery were analysed, and results demonstrated that a negative foam test result was associated with fetal pulmonary immaturity. This foam test corresponded to a lecithin concentration of less than 2.5 mg./100 ml. of amniotic fluid and an L/S ratio of less than 6.