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  • Title: Meconium testing for cocaine metabolite: prevalence, perceptions, and pitfalls.
    Author: Rosengren SS, Longobucco DB, Bernstein BA, Fishman S, Cooke E, Boctor F, Lewis SC.
    Journal: Am J Obstet Gynecol; 1993 May; 168(5):1449-56. PubMed ID: 8498426.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVES: We determined the prevalence of prenatal cocaine use in a racially mixed sample of urban and suburban mothers and correlated its use with maternal demographics and newborn measurements. STUDY DESIGN: Meconium from 621 consecutive newborns delivered at two university-affiliated urban hospitals were assayed for benzoylecgonine. Maternal and infant characteristics were linked anonymously with the results. Statistical analysis included t test, Fisher's exact test, Duncan's multiple range analysis, and analysis of covariance, with a value of p < 0.05 considered significant. RESULTS: We found that 3.4% of meconium samples had benzoylecgonine levels exceeding 0.1 micrograms/ml. Its presence was statistically correlated with maternal and neonatal characteristics. A nurse's opinion of cocaine use was correct 22% of the time. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal cocaine use was statistically associated with multiparity, multigravidity, late-onset and clinic-based prenatal care, public assistance, nonwhite race, and low academic achievement. A nurse's opinion was a poor predictor of maternal cocaine use. Cocaine-exposed infants were significantly smaller, and this correlated best with nonwhite background.
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