[Alpha fetoprotein in umbilical cord blood].

Quantitative measurement of alpha-foetoprotein was made on the cord blood of 158 new-born of gestational age ranging between 15 and 43 weeks. The technique used was that of simple radial immunodiffusion of Mancini which made possible the exact measurement of A.F.P. in all the specimens apart from 3. The correlation coefficient between the A.F.P. level in cord blood and gestational age is significant (r equals 0,85 for a risk p equals 0,001). However, the degree of difference at a given point in pregnancy and the difference in levels found in certain cases of twin pregnancies, suggest that factors other than gestational age (certain complications of pregnancy, for example) may influence foetal A,F.P.