[Demonstration of neonatal blood]

The authors present a method for demonstrating alpha -1- fetoprotein in neonatal blood spots. The results as obtained with the method used since 1973 are referred to as good. The method can be regarded as highly specific if the respective person can be ruled out to have, in particular, hepatic carcinoma. The specificity can be supported by a simultaneous demonstration of fetal haemoglobin. The positive result of the two methods permits to conclude that the blood examined originated from a fetus or a neonate, thus contributing to the resolution of some cases of illegal interruption of pregnancy or murder of a neonate.