Evaluation of the effect of meconium on assessment of fetal lung maturity status by TDxFLM II testing.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of meconium contamination on the TDxFLM II assay.


METHODS
Amniotic fluid was collected from patients undergoing amniocentesis for obstetric indications between 31 and 40 weeks of gestation. A baseline TDxFLM II value was obtained and compared with amniotic fluid contaminated with 1%, 5%, and 10% meconium by weight.


RESULTS
Twenty-one samples were studied, and in every case the TDxFLM II value decreased once the meconium was added. There was no consistent rate of decrease that correlated with the percentage of meconium added.


CONCLUSIONS
Meconium contamination decreases the TDxFLM II value. A clinician who performs this test in the presence of meconium can be reassured that the contamination will not give an artificially elevated result. If the result is in the mature range, one can be confident that the result would only be higher if meconium were not present.
Albright
Todd S
TS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health, Columbus, Ohio, USA. live2bike@comcast.net
Colombo
David F
DF
Euscher
Elizabeth
E
Samuels
Philip
P
D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity; D016231:Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay; D006801:Humans; D008470:Meconium; D011247:Pregnancy; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic