[Fast determination of pulmonary surfactant in amniotic fluid using fluorescent polarization (FLM test Abbott)]

A study of 60 amniotic fluids obtained by amniocentesis shows that the measurement of total surfactant phospholipids by the TDX Fetal Lung Maturity assay makes it possible to predict accurately fetal lung maturity. A sensitivity of 100% is similar to that of other tests currently used but with a higher specificity (93% instead of 65% for the L/S ratio and 55% for the phosphatidylglycerol). The phospholipid/albumin ratio is carried out automatically by means of a fluorescence polarization method with the TDX Abbott apparatus. A cut off value of 50 mg/g should be considered as a good fetal lung maturity indicator. The population studied was composed of women with an arterial hypertension (n = 6), diabetes (n = 9) preterm premature rupture of the membranes (n = 8), gemellary pregnancy (n = 5) or with a risk of premature outcome (n = 10). In all cases delivery occurred within 24 hours after the amniocentesis. The average gestational age was 36 weeks. Seven newborns (11%) presented hyaline membrane disease. In conclusion, this simple and rapid test seems to be adequate to evaluate with accuracy the fetal lung maturity in abnormal pregnancies. It must however, be associated with the determination of phosphatidylglycerol, when the fluid is contaminated by blood or meconium.