title: Lamellar body counts for rapid fetal lung maturity testing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate amniotic fluid lamellar body counting as a fetal lung maturity test. Lamellar body particles can be rapidly counted using the platelet channel of most blood cell analyzers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a 3-year prospective clinical outcome study. During the interval under study, outcomes of 247 neonates were used to evaluate the test; 28 neonates developed respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Lecithin-sphingomyelin ratio (L/S) was available for 187 cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All cases of RDS had lamellar body counts of 55,000/microL or less and L/S of 2.2 or less; 59% of cases with no RDS had counts greater than 55,000/microL and 70% of normal cases had L/S higher than 2.2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of lamellar body counts is justified as a rapid screening test to predict fetal lung maturity. Immature results should be followed by a more specific test such as L/S.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Ashwood
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Pingree
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology*; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000032:analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013109:Sphingomyelins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D013109:Sphingomyelins