[Limulus amebocyte lysate assay for diagnosing intraamniotic infection].

The value of the Limulus amebocyte lysate assay (LAL) in the diagnosis of intraamniotic infection was determined in amniotic fluid from transabdominal amniocenteses in 51 women in preterm labor with intact membranes. The prevalence of positive amniotic fluid cultures was 21.5% (11/51) in detecting intraamniotic infection. The LAL was positive in 19.6% (10/51), its sensitivity 81.8% (9/11), specificity 97.5% (39/40), positive predictive value 90.0% (9/10), and negative predictive value 95.1% (39/41). Similarly, in detecting women who would fail tocolysis and deliver prematurely, its sensitivity was 27.6% (8/29), specificity 90.9% (20/22), positive predictive value 80% (8/10), and negative predictive value 48.8% (20/41). We conclude that LAL is a simple, rapid and sensitive test for detecting intraamniotic infection in women in preterm labor.