Bilirubin - amniotic fluid
Last updated: Thursday, 08, April, 2004
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| Item | Process |
|---|---|
| Specimen | 2 mL amniotic fluid. Protect from light. |
| Method | Spectrophotometry. |
| Reference Interval | Varies with gestational age. Some laboratories express the result as µmol/L, others as an ODD450 (optical density difference at 450 nm). |
| Application | Investigation of pregnancies at risk for Haemolytic disease of the newborn. |
| Interpretation | Increased levels indicate haemolysis. A number of different graphs have been published correlating degree of risk with amniotic fluid bilirubin level at various gestational ages. Bleeding into the amniotic fluid invalidates results. |
| Reference | Oepkes D. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2000; 92(1): 83-89. |