The association between the fat cell count of amniotic fluid and tests of fetal lung maturity

The fat cell count in amniotic fluid samples from 100 patients was compared with the lecithin-sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio and total phospholipid content. When the fat cell count was over 10%, the L/S ratio indicated maturity in all cases and the total phospholipids indicated maturity in all but 1 case. When the presence of blood or meconium in the amniotic fluid renders lung surfactant tests unreliable, an indication for the fat cell count exists.