[Serum C reactive protein as a laboratory indicator of infection in neonates]

CRP was measured in cord blood of 41 neonates born by healthy mothers and those with either risk of infection or its obvious clinical symptoms, and in sera of 122 newborn babies from infection risk group. Results excluded cord blood as a possible specimen for CRP estimation, because of very low values, at lower limit of sensitivity of the immunoturbidimetric method, and showed a correlation of serum CRP and clinical condition and its usefulness in monitoring of anti-bacterial therapy.