The aim of this study to determine the reference ranges of LBC on gastric aspirate in healthy term newborns.

Lamellar bodies represent the storage form of lung surfactant. Surfactant is produced in alveolar type II cells and transported to the alveolar surface as lamellar bodies. Lamellar bodies are present in the amniotic fluid and also gastric aspirate.It has become a preferred test for determine fetal lung maturity, because of the rapid, inexpensive, easily accessible and easily applicable method.

Inclusion Criteria:

• infants born at ≥ 37 weeks of gestation and birth weight ≥ 2500 g

Exclusion Criteria:

• intubated immediately after birth, infants with respiratory distress, infants with gestational pathology that can influence fetal lung maturity (cases with premature rupture of membranes, preeclampsia/eclampsia, gestational diabetes, oligohydramnios/polyhidramnios or antenatal steroid use), infants with major congenital or chromosomal abnormalities and lack of parental consent, therapeutic infusion was given in the amniotic cavity or if gastric aspirate contaminated by meconium, pus or blood.

healthy newborns