Thin-layer chromatography for separation of phospholipids in amniotic fluid.

A method using a 1-dimensional, thin-layer chromatographic technique for the separation of phospholipids in amniotic fluid is described. The phospholipids of major importance in evaluating fetal lung maturity were separated: sphingomyelin, lecithin, and, notably, phosphatidylglycerol. Preliminary clinical results correlate the increasing appearance of phosphatidylglycerol with increasing lecithin : sphingomyelin ratios.