Potential evapotranspiration (PET) is the amount of water that would be evaporated and transpired if there were sufficient water available. This demand incorporates the energy available for evaporation and the ability of the lower atmosphere to transport evaporated moisture away from the land surface.
In many cases of hospital births where the baby has passed meconium before birth, a special NICU team will be called when the baby is delivered in case there was ingestion of the meconium into the babyâs lungs. If a newborn does swallow some meconium it can lead to Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS).
Meconium contains the amniotic fluid swallowed by the fetus in the last half of pregnancy and is released as the first stools after birth. Meconium is easier to collect than neonatal urine and provides a much longer window of exposure of up to 20 weeks. A sample of 3 grams (1 teaspoon) of meconium is needed for maximum sensitivity. USDTL will analyze smaller amounts, but with a reduction in sensitivity and/or the window of exposure. We recommend weighing the specimen on a jeweler's scale. Click here to download the meconium drug panels.