Specimen:

Amniotic Fluid

Collection Medium:

Alternate
Collection Media:

Call laboratory for additional acceptable specimen collection 
containers.

Minimum:

5 ml Amniotic Fluid
3 ml (minimum)

Testing
Schedule:

24 hrs/day, 7 days a week, including holidays.

Analytic Time:

2 hours (upon receipt in laboratory)

Reference Range:

Immature:  < or = to 39 mg/g.  Frequency of RDS 4.2% in Abbott Study.

Intermediate:  40-54 mg/g.  Frequency of RDS 2% in Abbott Study.
               No RDS observed in study > 41 mg/g.

Mature:  > or = to 55 mg/g.  Frequency of RDS 0% in Abbott Study.

Comments:

If amniotic fluid contains bilirubin or if an indeterminant
or immature result is obtained from a sample that contains meconium or 
blood, the FLMX is cancelled and a PG (phosphatidyl glycerol) ordered.  
Patient will be charged for a PG only.

Test
Limitations:

Extreme caution should be used in the evaluation of fetal lung maturity
in cases of multiple births (twins, triplets, etc).  Samples from fetus
with kidney or urinary anomalies visible by ultrasound may give
erroneous results.  Results from these samples should be confirmed by
other test methods.

Methodology:

FPIA (Fluorescence Polarization ImmunoAssay)

Sample
Processing:

Do Not Centrifuge.
Submit in leakproof container.
Label transport tube with two patient identifiers, date and time of 
collection.
Protect specimen from light.

Sample
Storage:

Refrigerate.

Transport
Instructions:

Place requisition into outside pocket of bag.
Place specimen into zip-lock type bag, seal bag.
Transport in cooler with refrigerated coolant packs.

CPT Code:

83663