Effects of Bacteria on Lung Maturity Testing in Amniotic Fluid
Author Information
Author(s): R. Phillip Heine, Susan Harding, Pegi Emmett, Edward Ashwood, Roger R. Lenke
Primary Institution: University of Colorado, Denver, CO and University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
Hypothesis
Does bacterial contamination affect fluorescence polarization testing of amniotic fluid?
Conclusion
Bacterial inoculation and prolonged co-incubation do not significantly affect fluorescence polarization results in amniotic fluid.
Supporting Evidence
- Fluorescence polarization results were consistent across all specimens regardless of bacterial inoculation.
- Control specimens also showed variability similar to inoculated specimens.
- The study suggests that bacterial contamination does not adversely affect FPOL results.
Takeaway
The study found that adding bacteria to amniotic fluid doesn't change the test results for lung maturity, so the test is still reliable even if there's a bacterial infection.
Methodology
Amniotic fluid from 4 patients was inoculated with bacteria and tested for fluorescence polarization at time zero and after 24 hours.
Limitations
The study only tested two types of bacteria and a small sample size.
Participant Demographics
All participants were in the third trimester of pregnancy with no evidence of infection.
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