The effect of storage conditions on amniotic fluid phosphatidylglycerol concentration.

In certain high-risk gestations, phosphatidylglycerol in the amniotic fluid is reported to be useful in predicting respiratory distress syndrome of the neonate in high-risk patients. This study of amniotic fluid phosphatidylglycerol was performed to determine the degradation of phosphatidylglycerol in both the supernatant and the lamellar bodies of amniotic fluid samples collected from normal term pregnant patients. The objective of the study was to discover whether phosphatidylglycerol retained its stability when measured in transported and stored amniotic fluid. The results of the study showed that phosphatidylglycerol remained stable in all amniotic fluid samples stored at various temperatures over a 3-week period.