The nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction of neutrophil granulocytes from newborn infants and their mothers in relation to the occurrence of bacteria in amnion fluid and cord blood.

The nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction of granulocytes from cord blood, when measured without in vitro stimulation with bacteria, was significantly higher than that of maternal granulocytes. This elevated activity may be an adequate response to the presence in cord blood of degradation products from the placenta but also of potentially pathogenic bacteria, found in cord blood of infants with high NBT values. On in vitro stimulation cord blood granulocytes displayed the same high NBT activity as those of the mothers and of healthy non-pregnant women. All but one blood culture from the infants 25--48 h after delivery were sterile. The only child with a low non-stimulated NBT activity of cord blood granulocytes was also the only one presenting a clinical picture of neonatal septicemia, though not bacteriologically verified.