Enzyme reagents for measurement of phospholipids of amniotic fluid
Artiss, J.D.; Epstein, E.; Kiechle, F.L.; Zak, B.
Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science 15(6): 488-494
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0091-7370 PMID: 4062229 Document Number: 254209
Enzymic procedures have been developed for the specific determination of three phospholipids in an effort to make the estimation of the phospholipids of amniotic fluid more sound analytically. Apart from the actual determination of these analytes (lecithin, sphingomyelin, and phosphatidylglycerol), these enzymic procedures facilitate the evaluation of a number of the basic premises and procedural steps involved with the traditional procedures for the evaluation of fetal lung maturity. To this end, the changes are reported in sphingomyelin concentrations with gestational age. Although lacking in sufficient clinical data to assign "cut-off" values as yet, the enzymic procedures seem to correlate well with the existing procedures and are analytically accurate and precise.