Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  1999 Mar;42(3):491-495.

The Effect of Blood and Meconium Contamination on the TDx - FLM Assay for the Assessment of Fetal Lung Maturity

• Kim SP
• Shin JC
• Lee Y
• Lee JK
• Baik EJ
• Kim KH
• Jung DY
• Kim CI

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
We studied to determine the effect of blood or meconium contamination on the TDx-FLM assay for the assessment of fetal lung maturity. We also studied to evaluate the degree of diluted contaminants that affect the results.
METHODS
Nineteen samples of amnotic fluid-14 cases < GA 37weeks and 5 cases > GA 37weeks-were collected and assayed for assessment of fetal lung maturity using tbe TDx-FLM assay. Among the above 19 samples, we used 12 samples-7 cases < GA 37weeks and 5 cases > GA37 weeks-to contaminate with blood or meconium. Maternal blood was added to the amniotic fluid at increasing concentrations fro 1:10 to 1:1280. Diluted meconium (0.5g meconium/10ml amniotic fluid) was added at increasing concentration fiom 1:1 to 1:128. Each samples were assessed by TDx assay.
RESULTS
TDx values in the cases of gestational age 37 weeks or more were matured level or borderline level(TDx value > 50mg/g), but below 37 weeks, TDx values wae immature level(TDx value < 50mg/g) except one case. In preterm cases, blood or meconium contamination did not affect the TDx values significantly, although the thick meamium contamination (diluted meconium: amniotic fluid 1:1 - 1:4) increased the TDx values. In term cases, they did not affect the TDx values.
CONCLUSION
TDx test was suitable for the evaluation of fetal lung maturity regardless of blood or meconium contamination.

Keyword

TDx-FLM test; Blood & rneconium contamination

MeSH Terms

Amniotic Fluid
Female
Gestational Age
Lung*
Meconium*