Abstract
Fluorescence polarization (FP) values were determined in 59 samples of amniotic fluid and in 56 samples of newborn gastric aspirate, collected from the 28th to 41st week of gestation. Both amniotic fluid and gastric aspirate FP values showed a significant correlation respectively with gestational age (r = 0.77; p<0.01 and r = 0.50; p<0.01). The two regression. lines were parallel (F = 0.052; p = 0.8046). Mean FP of gastric aspirate were about 0.05 lower than those of amniotic fluid. One infant whose gastric aspirate FP value was 0.342 developed RDS.