Amniotic fluid lamellar body count and its sensitivity and specificity in evaluating of fetal lung maturity

This prospective study was designed to perform lamellar body count of amniotic fluid to evaluate fetal lung maturity. Lamellar body counts of 80 amniotic fluid samples from 80 pregnant women (28-40 weeks of gestation) were evaluated. After delivery, each infant was evaluated for any evidence of respiratory distress syndrome. Standard clinical and radiographic criteria were used to diagnose respiratory distress syndrome, and the diagnosis was confirmed by reviewing newborn records. Twenty (25%) infants delivered within 24 hours of sample collection developed RDS. Lamellar body count more than 50,000/microl predicted pulmonary maturity. Seventeen out of 20 respiratory distress syndrome cases had been predicted correctly. The negative predictive value of lamellar body count>50,000/microl was 93% and positive predictive value was 48% and the sensitivity for prediction of RDS was 85% and specificity was 70%. Lamellar body count can be used as a favourable predictor of fetal lung maturity because it is quick, simple and universally available. Also it can be used as an extremely inexpensive, reliable screening test for evaluating fetal lung maturity.