Fetal blood analysis. II. Effect of delayed assay on pH and lactate.
Fetal umbilical artery blood was analyzed for pH and lactate at intervals over a 3-hour period. No significant change occurred in pH over the first 30 minutes, despite a progressive rise in plasma lactate. The pH changes paralleled the lactate in an inverse relationship, but remained within the error of the method for the first hour. Lactate analysis should be considered for clinical use, for confirmation of pH observations. Also pH assays may be used in any hospital with a blood-gas capability, since a 30-minute delay within the assay does not materially alter the results. A laboratory in the delivery room area is not essential to proper use of fetal blood pH analysis.
D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007773:Lactates / Q000032:analysis*; D019344:Lactic Acid; D013997:Time Factors
D007773:Lactates; D019344:Lactic Acid