Objective The purpose of this study was to determine whether an intra partum as sessment of amniotic fluid identifies a pregnancy that is at risk for an adverse outcome. Study design Parturients who were admitted for delivery were assigned randomly to have the amniotic fluid assessed either by amniotic fluid index or b y the presence of a 2 ×1 pocket. Results The amniotic fluid index was obtained in 499 pregnancies, and the 2 ×1 technique was performed in 501. Oligohydramnio s was diagnosed in 25%of amniotic fluid index pregnancies versus 8%with the us e of the 2 ×1 pocket technique (P < .001). Both techniques failed to identify p atients who underwent an amnioinfusion for fetal distress (P=.864) or who experi enced variable (P=.208) or late decelerations (P=.210) that influenced delivery, fetal distress in labor (P=.220), caesarean delivery for fetal distress (P=.133 ), and admission to neonatal intensive care unit (P=.686). Conclusion Neither th e amniotic fluid index nor the 2 ×1 pocket technique that was undertaken as a f etal admission test identi fies a pregnancy that is at risk for an adverse outco me. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine whether an intra partum as sessment of amniotic fluid identifies a pregnancy that is at risk for an adverse outcome. Study design Parturients who were admitted for delivery were assigned randomly to have the the amniotic fluid assessed by amniotic fluid index or by the presence of a 2 × 1 pocket. Results The amniotic fluid index was obtained in 499 pregnancies, and the 2 × 1 technique was performed in 501. Oligohydramnios was was 25% of amniotic fluid index pregnancies versus 8% with the US e of the 2 × 1 pocket technique (P <.001). Both techniques failed to identify p at patients who underwent an amnioinfusion for fetal distress (P = .864) or who experi enced variable (P = .208) or late decelerations (P = .210) that influenced delivery, fetal distress in labor (P = .220), caesarean delivery for fetal distress (P = .133), and admission to neonatal intensive care unit (P = .686) Neither th e amniotic fluid index nor the 2 × 1 pocket technique that was undertaken as a f etal admission test identi fies a pregnancy that is at risk for an adverse outco me.