A comparative study between the values of lecithin, sphingomyelin, lysolecithin, the L/S index, and the Clements test...

The relationship between the concentration of several phospholipids in amniotic fluid and the ocurrence of neonatal RDS was established some years ago. However the methods used for the determination of those substances are sophisticated and time consuming. They require specalized equipment and take at least 2 or 3 hours. CLEMENTS described a semiquantitative method which overcomes these disadvantages. The present study compared the concentration of lecithin, shingomyelin, lysolecithin and the L/S ratio against the results obtained when processing the same samples with the CLEMENTS Test. the results are expressed in mg/100 ml. for the different phospholipids and the test was evaluated as positive, intermediate or negative. a statistically significant correlation has been found between the values of lecithin, lysolecithin and L/S ratio and the results of the CLEMENTS Test, respectively. No correlation could be found with sphingomyelin (Figs. 1-4). It is concluded that the CLEMENTS Test can be a useful tool as a screening test available to any obstetrical centre.