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MATURITY OF FETAL LUNGS TESTED BY PRODUCTION OF STABLE MICROBUBBLES IN AMNIOTIC FLUID

  1. R. E. Pattle Senior Principal Scientific Officer1,
  2. C. C. Kratzing Visiting Scientist1,†,
  3. C. E. Parkinson Research Assistant2,
  4. L. Graves Technician2,
  5. R. D. Robertson Registrar3,‡,
  6. G. J. Robards Registrar3,‡,
  7. J. O. Currie Registrar3,§,
  8. J. H. Parsons Registrar3,
  9. P. D. Sutherland Registrar4,¶

Article first published online: 23 AUG 2005

DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1979.tb10823.x

Issue

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Volume 86, Issue 8, pages 615–622, August 1979

Additional Information

How to Cite

Pattle, R. E., Kratzing, C. C., Parkinson, C. E., Graves, L., Robertson, R. D., Robards, G. J., Currie, J. O., Parsons, J. H. and Sutherland, P. D. (1979), MATURITY OF FETAL LUNGS TESTED BY PRODUCTION OF STABLE MICROBUBBLES IN AMNIOTIC FLUID. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 86: 615–622. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1979.tb10823.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire

  2. 2

    Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Charlotte's Hospital, Goldhawk Road, London, W6

  3. 3

    Salisbury General Hospital

  4. 4

    Southampton General Hospital

  1. †

    Present addresses: Department of Physiology, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Australia.

  2. ‡

    Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

  3. §

    101, Best Street, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia.

  4. 23, Portview Road, Greenwich, New South Wales, Australia.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 23 AUG 2005
  2. Article first published online: 23 AUG 2005

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Summary

Lung surfactant in amniotic fluid, and hence the maturity of the fetal lungs, can be assessed by observation of stable microbubbles (less than 15 m diameter). Bubbles are formed by agitation with a Pasteur pipette and examined in hanging drops under the 10 power of a microscope. Either after a count of bubbles, or after a general survey of hanging drops, the fluid is given a stable microbubble rating. A 'strong’rating indicates that the idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome will not occur after delivery, and that the lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio will indicate maturity. Complete absence of stable microbubbles suggests a high risk of respiratory trouble for the newborn infant, as does a weak or lower rating in the 30 to 37 week gestational age group. The test takes 5 to 10 minutes to perform, is cheap and easy, is not affected by blood, but may be affected by meconium. If a 'strong’rating is found, measurement of the L/S ratio can safely be omitted.

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