A new modification of spectrophotometry in the investigation of amniotic fluid by amnioscopy.

A new spectrophotometric application to amnioscopy for the estimation of the colour of amniotic fluid is presented. Three light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with peak wavelengths of 565 nm (green), 581 nm (yellow), and 645 nm (red) act as the light sources, and the light reflected from the amniotic fluid is measured using a photodiode. The greatest advantages of our new application are the short recording time of about 15 s. and the simplified mechanical performance of the measurement, which reduce errors. Preliminary clinical results show that green colouration can be easily discriminated from yellow and clear amniotic fluid. Sources of error and improvements to the method are discussed.