Immunoassay of phospholipid, such as phosphatidylcholine, in fluids such as amniotic

摘要

An immunologic assay for determining the presence of one or more phospholipids in a biological fluid. The method includes adding an ethanolic solution of diacylphosphatidylcholine or alkyltrimethylammonium halide and cholesterol to the biological fluid forming a macromolecular aggregate complex solution. To this solution is added antibody molecules to the phospholipids in an aqueous buffered medium causing an agglutination reaction. The product of the reaction is then examined to determine the presence of the phospholipids. The method is particularly useful in determining the presence of phosphatidylglycerol in a sample of amniotic fluid. Thus, the assay may be used in evaluating fetal lung maturity.