Estimation Of Fetal Maturity By Amniotic Fluid Cytology

Eighty‐three specimens of liquor amnii from the 30th to the 42nd gestational week were examined cytologically by the Nile Blue sulphate method, and the results were compared with earlier investigations. From the 37th week a large increase in the percentage of orange cells was found, expressing fetal maturity. However, it seems that the large number of specimens with a low content of orange cells late in pregnancy makes the method less suitable as a routine method. On the other hand it may be useful in the evaluation of possible placental insufficiency.