A rapid qualitative method for detecting phosphatidylglycerol in amniotic fluid.

A fast, reliable and inexpensive procedure of the qualitative determination of phosphatidylglycerol (PG) in amniotic fluid, using one-dimensional thin layer chromatography and a phosphorus-specific spray, is described. The method detects amounts of PG exceeding 1 microgram or 1.7% of total phospholipids in amniotic fluid. Contamination with serum does not influence the results. Excessive amounts of meconium interfere with the chromatography. The presence of PG was always associated with a mature L/S ratio (greater than 2), whereas its absence did not necessarily exclude lung maturity.