title: The utility of the TDx test in the assessment of fetal lung maturity.
abstract: Accurate assessment of fetal lung maturity is essential in the management of high-risk obstetric patients. New rapid techniques have been developed to supplement time-consuming chromatographic methods. We compared one of these newer methods, the TDx-FLM, to the standard tests for fetal pulmonary maturity. There was an excellent correlation between the TDx and the lecithin-sphingomyelin ratio (r = 0.78). Although a TDx value of 70 or greater is considered mature, we found a value of 50 or greater predictive of fetal lung maturity in 100% of cases, and have chosen to redefine a mature value as 50 or greater in our institution. This value has greatly enhanced the clinical applicability of the test, allowing use of a large number of specimens from the previously poorly understood and often disregarded borderline category.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Steinfeld
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Samuels
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bulley
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Senior
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology*; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000032:analysis; D010715:Phosphatidylglycerols / Q000032:analysis; D013109:Sphingomyelins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010715:Phosphatidylglycerols; D013109:Sphingomyelins