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Test ID FLP Fetal Lung Profile, Amniotic Fluid

Useful For

Determining the ability of fetal lungs to produce sufficient quantities of pulmonary surfactant

 

Assessing the risk of developing neonatal respiratory distress in fetuses delivered less than 39 weeks gestational age

Method Name

Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC) with Quantitation by Densitometry
Includes lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio, and phosphatidylglycerol (PG), semiquantitative on amniotic fluid.

Reporting Name

Fetal Lung Profile, AF

Specimen Type

Amniotic Fld

Container/Tube: Amniotic fluid container

Specimen Volume: 10 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Centrifuge at 1,000 rpm or 200 x G for 10 minutes, separate supernatant and send both supernatant and sediment in separate plastic vials.

2. Label specimens sediment and supernatant.

Additional Information: Include estimate of duration of pregnancy (in weeks).

Forms: New York Clients-Informed consent is required. Please document on the request form or electronic order that a copy is on file. An Informed Consent for Genetic Testing (T576) is available in Special Instructions.

Specimen Minimum Volume

3 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Amniotic Fld Frozen (preferred) 14 days
  Ambient  72 hours
  Refrigerated  72 hours

Clinical Information

Respiratory distress syndrome is a common complication of prematurity occurring in infants whose lungs lack the surfactant necessary for healthy lung inflation and air exchange. Surfactant is not produced in sufficient quantity until relatively late in gestation. It is primarily made up of phospholipids such as lecithin and phosphatidylglycerol, which can be detected in amniotic fluid and used as markers for fetal lung maturity. Both the lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) concentration increase with gestational age and correlate with lung maturity. Testing both the L/S ratio and the presence or absence of PG provides a better assessment of neonatal risk than the use of either test alone.

Reference Values

Lecithin/

Sphingomyelin

Ratio

 

 

Phosphatidylglycerol

 

 

Interpretation

<2.5

Absent

Immature

≥2.5

Absent

Indeterminate

<2.5

Trace

Indeterminate

≥2.5

Trace

Mature

Any ratio

Present

Mature

All results will be called back.

Cautions

No significant cautionary statements

Day(s) Performed

Testing set-up until 2 pm Monday through Saturday, and 11 am Sunday

Samples received after these times will be run the next day.

Report Available

1 day

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Medical Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. This test has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information

83661-Fetal lung maturity assessment; L/S ratio

84081-PG

NY State Approved

Yes