UNLABELLED: The gastric aspirate shake test (GST) was evaluated in 77 newborns with respiratory distress for predicting hyaline membrane disease (HMD) at KEM Hospital, Pune, India. METHODS: Over 0.5 ml of gastric fluid was obtained within 30 min of birth and mixed with an equal volume of normal saline for 10 sec; 1 ml of 95% ethanol was then added and the mixture agitated for 10 sec. After standing for 15 min, the air-liquid interface was examined for bubbles. RESULTS: All 21 infants with a negative GST developed HMD. However, 12 infants with an intermediate and nine with a positive test also developed HMD. None of the infants with other respiratory disorders, e.g. transient tachypnoea and pneumonia, had a negative GST. A negative GST had a specificity of 100%, sensitivity of 70% and positive predictive value of 100% for developing HMD. CONCLUSION: GST is a useful test for predicting HMD and might be of particular value in developing countries.
UNLABELLED: The gastric aspirate shake test (GST) was evaluated in 77 newborns with respiratory distress for predicting hyaline membrane disease (HMD) at KEM Hospital, Pune, India. METHODS: Over 0.5 ml of gastric fluid was obtained within 30 min of birth and mixed with an equal volume of normal saline for 10 sec; 1 ml of 95% ethanol was then added and the mixture agitated for 10 sec. After standing for 15 min, the air-liquid interface was examined for bubbles. RESULTS: All 21 infants with a negative GST developed HMD. However, 12 infants with an intermediate and nine with a positive test also developed HMD. None of the infants with other respiratory disorders, e.g. transient tachypnoea and pneumonia, had a negative GST. A negative GST had a specificity of 100%, sensitivity of 70% and positive predictive value of 100% for developing HMD. CONCLUSION: GST is a useful test for predicting HMD and might be of particular value in developing countries.