[Maternal alpha-fetoprotein. Its levels in the eluate of dried blood for screening antenatally defects in the closure of the neural tube (author's transl)].

Taking levels of alpha-feto-protein serially from the mother's blood between the 16th and 18th week of pregnancy gives rise to the possibility of screening more than 80 per cent of cases of anancephaly and spina bifida. Because of the seriousness and the frequency of these fetal malformations (12 in 10,000 deliveries) in our district, routine antenatal screening would be worth while. Because of this we suggest that a radioimmune technique for measuring the levels of AFP in dried blood eluate should be carried out. It is as reliable as measuring the levels in blood serum. The way of obtaining the sample that is used makes it suitable for mass screening. We have established the normal values of AFP measured by our method between the 15th and 22nd weeks of pregnancy. These make it possible to define the upper limits of warning that are suitable for screening on a regional basis. During this study we found a case of anencephaly in which the level of maternal AFP was significantly higher than the limits we had worked out.