shake test

foam sta·bil·i·ty test

a test for fetal pulmonary maturity, determined by the ability of pulmonary surfactant in amniotic fluid to generate stable foam in the presence of ethanol after mechanical agitation. Synonym(s): shake test

shake test

Foam stability index, see there.

shake test

A quick test to estimate fetal lung maturity. A sample of amniotic fluid is diluted with normal saline, mixed with 95% ethyl alcohol, and shaken for 30 sec. The continued presence of small foamy bubbles in the solution after 15 min confirms the presence of pulmonary surfactant. Synonym: foam stability test; rapid surfactant test