The method of choice for the laboratory measurement of phospholipids such as lecithin, sphingomyelin, and phosphatidylglycerol in evaluating fetal lung maturity is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Lecithin, sphingomyelin, and phosphatidylglycerol are measured by thin-layer chromatography (TLC).For specimen preparation, centrifugation time and speed are critical because excessive centrifugation distorts the lipid content of the specimen.Although TLC techniques are labor intensive, the sensitivity and specificity of this method for determining fetal lung maturity is approximately 80% and 85%, respectively.

The Method of Choice for the Laboratory Measurement of Phospholipids