[Evaluation of fetal lung maturity by lamellar bodies counting in amniotic fluid].

Purpose: To compare the lamellar body number density (LBND) count in amniotic fluid using the fluorescent polarization (FP) test as a diagnostic parameter for the assessment of fetal pulmonary maturity.

Method: This was an analytical, controlled cross-sectional study conducted on 60 pregnant women from March 2002 to December 2007. Amniotic fluid specimens were obtained by amniocentesis or at the time of caesarean section, and submitted to the LBND and FP tests (TDxFLM, Abbott Laboratories), the latter considered to be a reference test, and compared in terms of the presence or absence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).