Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026
Protocol and Guidelines for Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound in Diagnosing Neonatal Pulmonary Diseases Based on International Expert Consensus
Published on: March 6, 2019
Changing patterns of fetal lung maturity testing
K T McGinnis1, J A Brown, J C Morrison
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216-4505, USA.
Objective:
In our laboratory, a decrease in fetal lung maturity (FLM) testing on amniotic fluid occurred over a 10-year period, and we desired to determine if this was a national phenomenon and, if present, ascertain possible etiologies.
Study Design:
Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellows, both in academic centers and private practice, were surveyed with regard to current usage of FLM testing.
Result:
Of 680 surveys, 417 (61%) responses were returned and 60% noted a decrease in FLM testing (range of reduction--foam stability index 65%, fluorescence polarization 35%, phosphatidyl glycerol 71%, lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio 70%). The most common reason suggested for the decline is that the tests were not needed for patient management.
Conclusion:
Obstetric patterns of FLM testing have declined, principally in near-term pregnancies, and this could adversely affect neonatal outcome.
