The tap test: a simple and inexpensive method for the diagnosis of fetal pulmonary maturity

Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 1993 May;41(2):135-8. doi: 10.1016/0020-7292(93)90695-s.

Abstract

Objective: To report our experience in the prediction of fetal lung maturity with the tap test.

Method: Amniotic fluid was obtained from 207 pregnant women from 17-40 weeks' gestation and the tap test compared with the phospholipid profile.

Results: The predictive values for a mature tap test were 100%, 99.9% and 98.2% and for immature tap test were 45.8%, 50% and 56.4% at 2.5 and 10 min, respectively.

Conclusion: The tap test is a reliable, rapid, easy, inexpensive and accurate method for detection of fetal lung maturity.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Amniotic Fluid / chemistry*
  • Female
  • Fetal Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Fetal Organ Maturity*
  • Humans
  • Lung / embryology*
  • Phosphatidylcholines / analysis
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Pregnancy
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Sphingomyelins / analysis

Substances

  • Phosphatidylcholines
  • Sphingomyelins