Multiple forms of extracellular phospholipase $A_2$ have been detected in human amniotic fluid (HAF). When HAF was subjected to heparin-Sepharose column chromatography, phospholipase $A_2$ activity was detected in both heparin-non binding and binding fraction. The activity of heparin-non binding fraction was further purified by sequential uses of column chromatographies on butyl-Toy-opearl 650M and DEAE-Sephacel. DEAE-Sephacel fraction contained three different phospholipase $A_2$ activities (Peak I, II, III). The molecular weight of DEAE-Sephacel fraction phospholipase $A_2$ determined by SDS-PAGE were about 52KDa (Peak I). Peak II, III required micromolar $Ca^{2+}$ ion for its maximum activity, but Peak I enzyme showed calcium independent phospholipase $A_2$ activity and showed broad range of pH (6.0~10.0) optimum. All these enzymes were not recognized by a monoclonal antibody raised against phospholipase $A_2$ from human synovial fluid. These results suggest that HAF might contain multiple forms of extracellular phospholipase $A_2$, which may neither belong to the 14KDa group II phospholipase $A_2$ family nor cytosolic phospholipase $A_2$.