Low-flow capnography with Microstream technology accurately measured alveolar CO(2) in newborns without pulmonary disease, as demonstrated by normal PetCO(2)-PaCO(2) gradients. The measured PetCO(2)-PaCO(2) gradient, as expected, was significantly higher in newborns with pulmonary disease. We also identified four quantitative waveform parameters that may be useful in differentiating between mechanically ventilated newborn patients with and without lung disease.