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Updated: Jul 31, 2026
Biochemical Measurement of Neonatal Hypoxia
Published on: August 24, 2011
Dye-dilution techniques using aminohippurate sodium: do they accurately reflect amniotic fluid volume?
E F Magann1, N S Whitworth, J C Files
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, USA.
Objective:
To determine whether the dye-dilution technique using aminohippurate sodium accurately measures amniotic fluid volume.
Methods:
Singleton pregnancies with intact membranes undergoing a Cesarean delivery had their amniotic fluid volume assessed by the dye-dilution technique and direct measurement.
Results:
Fifteen women were prospectively assessed. Six patients had their amniocentesis on the delivery table and nine patients at 4-24 h prior to the Cesarean delivery. The six women undergoing an amniocentesis just before delivery had good concordance between the dye-determined and direct measurement of amniotic fluid volume (r = 0.99, p = < 0.001). Among the nine women with varying times from amniocentesis to direct measurement, the correlation was not significant (r = 0.36, p = 0.08). The percentage difference between the dye-determined and directly measured amniotic fluid volume was significantly smaller in the women undergoing amniocentesis just prior to delivery (7%) than in the women with varying times from amniocentesis to delivery (37%, P < 0.001).
Conclusion:
Dye-determined amniotic fluid volume accurately reflects actual amniotic fluid volume but the dye-determined concentrations, in vivo, may undergo rapid changes.
