RESUMO
A prospective, experimental and comparative study, was carried out at the Labor Service and Perinatology Service at Gyn-Ob Division, Regional Hospital "20 de Novembre" ISSSTE, Mexico City, during the period from September 1st, 1987 to September 1st., 1988. The objective was to demonstrate usefulness of the Flame Test in the diagnosis of premature rupture of membranes (PRM). A total of 116 samples from patients randomly selected, in four groups (3 controls and one problem group), were studied. The test was used in comparison with crystallography. Age, gesta, parity, abortion and cesarean section, and birth's via, as well as the antecedent of use of anticonceptives, were studied. Twenty six samples in Group I, 10 in Group II, 40 in Group III and 40 in Group IV, were obtained. The statistical method of X,2 was used, and a statistically significant difference (p.05), was obtained, with a sensitivity of 97.8%, and specificity of 100%, a predictive value of 100%, and security of 98% for the test. It's concluded that the Flame test is useful in the diagnosis of PRM, with a low cost, a high sensitivity, and a similar specificity to the reported one by others.
