PRACTICAL USE AND EFFICIENCY OF AMNIOTIC-FLUID OD-650 AS A PREDICTOR OF FETAL PULMONARY MATURITY

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 61  (5) , 551-555
Abstract
Fetal pulmonary maturity evaluation was performed on 237 amniotic fluid specimens from 202 gravidas using optical density (OD) 650, shake or foam stabilization test, and lecithin:sphingomyelin ratio. Gravidas (131) delivered within 48 h of specimen collection, including 9 of 11 women delivering respiratory distress syndrome-affected infants and 40 delivering premature infants. Efficiency of each test in predicting fetal pulmonary maturity status was calculated. Statistically, OD 650 was significantly better at predicting fetal pulmonary maturity in preterm infants and all infants. Of 27 infants of diabetic mothers (classes A through R), 26 had mature OD 650 values; none developed respiratory distress syndrome. OD 650 is reliable in most clinical settings and superior to the shake test. Its primary use should occur when sophisticated phospholipid studies are not immediately available.

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