title: Lecithin/sphingomyelin ratios centrifuged and uncentrifuged amniotic fluid.
abstract: The literature suggests that the presence of cellular debris and sediment in amniotic fluid samples may alter the value of the lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratios, with a loss of as much as 75 percent of the surface-active lecithin1 and consequently a marked change in the L/S ratio. We wish to report our findings on 22 amniotic fluids obtained by transabdominal amniocentesis and analyzed with and without preliminary centrifugation. We find the L/S ratio is indeed unaltered by centrifugation. However, the actual amounts of lecithin and sphingomyelin appear to be lower in centrifuged samples.
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000032:analysis*; D002498:Centrifugation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000032:analysis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013109:Sphingomyelins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D013109:Sphingomyelins