Nitrazine paper is used as a screening test to detect small quantities of amniotic fluid in vaginal secretions. It is used in conjunction with the Fern Test to help detect ruptured membranes. Nitrazine paper is impregnated with an indicator dye Phenaphthazine.
What does a blue nitrazine test mean?
Nitrazine Test. This test involves putting a drop of fluid obtained from the vagina onto paper strips containing Nitrazine dye. The strips change color depending on the pH of the fluid. The strips will turn blue if the pH is greater than 6.0. A blue strip means it's more likely the membranes have ruptured.
How do you use nitrazine test strips?
Nitrazine Test This test involves putting a drop of fluid obtained from the vagina onto paper strips containing Nitrazine dye. The strips change color depending on the pH of the fluid.
What is nitrazine dye?
Nitrazine or phenaphthazine is a pH indicator dye often used in medicine. More sensitive than litmus, nitrazine indicates pH in the range of 4.5 to 7.5. Nitrazine is usually used as the disodium salt. This test is done to ascertain the nature of fluid in the vagina during pregnancy especially when premature rupture of membranes (PROM) is suspect.
What is the difference between nitrazine and litmus test?
More sensitive than litmus, nitrazine indicates pH in the range of 4.5 to 7.5. Nitrazine is usually used as the disodium salt. This test is done to ascertain the nature of fluid in the vagina during pregnancy especially when premature rupture of membranes (PROM) is suspect.
What is nitrazine test used for?
Nitrazine (phenapthazine) paper is used to measure vaginal pH in two settings. 1. Assessment of membrane rupture in pregnant women as described in the Procedure for Premature Rupture of membranes (PROM) as found in the OB GYN Policy and Procedure Manual.
What is a nitrazine pH test?
Nitrazine (Phenaphthazine) paper is used to measure the vaginal pH of expectant mothers to determine if the amniotic membrane has ruptured. The pH is used to determine if the fluid present represents amniotic fluid or vaginal fluid.
What color does nitrazine paper turn with amniotic fluid?
Because amniotic fluid is neutral (pH 7.0) or slightly alkaline (pH 7.25), it will change the yellow color of Nitrazine Paper. The pH values of blood, vaginal mucus, and certain secretions form vaginal infections are also Page 5 Procedures 5 Sterile Speculum Exam Policy and Procedure (con't) alkaline.
When do you perform a nitrazine test?
All samples remained ferning and nitrazine positive. Therefore optimal analysis of suspected amniotic fluid occurs when specimens are air-dried for 10 minutes. These tests may be reliably performed at gestations of 12 to 41 weeks.
What is pH of amniotic fluid?
Amniotic fluid normally has a pH of 6.5 or above whereas vaginal pH is 3.5–4.5.
Is amniotic fluid acidic?
Amniotic fluid normally has a pH of 7.0 to 7.5. Because pH in the upper vagina is normally acidic (pH 3.8-4.5), a vaginal pH test showing a pH of more than 4.5 strengthens a suspicion of rupture of membranes in case of clear vaginal discharge in pregnancy.
How do you use Nitrazine paper for amniotic fluid?
Bring the strip of Nitrazine paper into contact with the specimen, either by dipping the paper into the pool of suspected amniotic fluid or by touching the paper to the exam speculum.
What Colour is amniotic fluid?
Normal amniotic fluid is clear or tinted yellow. Fluid that looks green or brown usually means that the baby has passed the first bowel movement (meconium) while in the womb.
How do you test for amniotic fluid?
Amniocentesis is an invasive prenatal test in which your doctor takes a sample of the amniotic fluid. The sample (less than an ounce) is removed through a fine needle inserted into the uterus through your abdomen, under ultrasound guidance. A lab tests the sample, checking your baby's chromosomes.
How accurate is Nitrazine paper?
The diagnosis of rupture of the membranes by traditional methods of nitrazine paper determination and fern crystallization has been reported to be 93-98% accurate. Although the presence of contaminants in amniotic fluid has been reported to reduce this accuracy, the literature is conflicting concerning these effects.
How long is Nitrazine paper good for?
6 monthsMicro Essential Laboratory does a QC check before all product ships and recommends a QC check only if you keep open product longer than 6 months. If your Nitrazine paper is used before the 6 month mark, no QC check is required.
What does leaking amniotic fluid mean?
If you're leaking amniotic fluid, it means that your water has broken – the membranes that make up your amniotic sac have ruptured. If your pregnancy is full-term when your water breaks, but you're not in labor, it's called preterm rupture of membranes (PROM).
1) What color does Nitrazine paper turn with amniotic fluid?
The neutral pH of amniotic fluid is 7.0 which is slightly alkaline. Hence the nitrazine paper will turn yellow. It depends on the level of preterm...
2) How do you diagnose a premature rupture of membrane?
In order to know if a premature rupture of membranes has occurred, one must conduct the nitrazine test. It tells you even about the intensity of pr...
3) At which time would a Nitrazine test be performed?
Women with the rupture of fetal membranes should confirm the same by getting the test of the amniotic fluid. The diagnosis of PROM can't be neglect...
What Are the Symptoms of Premature Rupture of Membranes?
If you have fluids leaking from your vagina, then this is the sign that this is the premature rupture of the membranes. The fluid will trickle down slowly, do not mistake the fluid for urine. In order to make sure, do smell the amniotic fluid, if the amniotic fluid doesn’t have the smell of urine, then take the sign of prom.
Are There Complications to PROM?
Infection is the biggest risk of premature rupture of membranes. As soon as one learns of the infection in the uterus, the baby must be delivered immediately, as it will cause serious problems to the baby and the pregnant woman.
How Can I Prevent PROM?
Premature rupture of membranes cannot be prevented, but changing your lifestyle might reduce the risk. Smoking should be avoided, and also if one has a history of sexually transmitted disease then the risk of having premature rupture of membranes.
What is the pH of nitrazine?
Chemical compound. Nitrazine or phenaphthazine is a pH indicator dye often used in medicine. More sensitive than litmus, nitrazine indicates pH in the range of 4.5 to 7.5. Nitrazine is usually used as the disodium salt.
What does a blue strip mean on a blood test?
A blue strip means it's more likely the membranes have ruptured. This test, however, can produce false positives. If blood gets in the sample or if there is an infection present, the pH of the vaginal fluid may be higher than normal. Semen also has a higher pH, so recent vaginal intercourse can produce a false reading.
