Amniotic fluid in a clean, unused container. Include patient’s gestational age in weeks.
Handling:
Refrigerate. Do not freeze.
Stability:
7 days refrigerated.
Standard Volume:
2 mL amniotic fluid.
Minimum Volume:
0.5 mL amniotic fluid.
Transport:
Refrigerated.
Comments:
Specimen contaminated with red cells will be tested to determine if they are fetal or adult. Visibly bloody specimen will be examined for fetal RBCs by Kleihauer-Betke technique or fetal Hgb methods. Amniotic fluid specimen contaminated with fetal blood may exhibit abnormally high AFP values. Patients with an amniotic fluid AFP ≥ 2 MOM are at increased risk for a neural tube defect or ventral wall defect and should have amniotic fluid acetylcholinesterase determined. The ordering physician will be notified of the abnormal results and a request for acetylcholinesterase can be made at that time.
See patient report. Ranges are based on the weeks of gestation.