H-reflex latency: a maturity criterion for newborn babies.

One hundred newborn babies were investigated for H-reflex latency (H-RL) in between 33 to 40 weeks (wk) of post-conceptional age (PCA). Weekly data of both preterms (33 to 36 wk PCA) and fullterms (37 to 40 wk PCA) were compared. A significant reduction in H-RL was noticed at 37 wk PCA when newborns attain their term. The babies could be classified into preterms and fullterms by using their H-RL values.