Urine samples from 1,235 pregnant women were examined by light microscopy for cytologic evidence of virus infection. Smears of urine sediment from 40 women (3.2%) were observed to contain inclusion-bearing cells; polyomavirus infection was confirmed by virologic methods in 24 (60%). A polyomavirus was isolated from 12 women. Five isolates were identified as JC virus and one as BK virus. Another isolate designated AS virus appeared to be unique. Serologic studies on the 40 women were consistent with a high frequency of reactivation of JC virus, and virus excretion was related to gestation. The evidence suggests that selective excretion of JC virus may occur in pregnancy. Among 390 pregnant women without inclusion-bearing cells in their urine, 78 (20%) had a high or rising titer of serum antibody to JC or BK virus or both, a result suggesting virus reactivation, but virus excretion was not detected. In contrast to other reports, no evidence was found for transmission of BK virus to the fetus.

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A wooden spatula was designed to scrape the varied distribution of epithelial abnormalities of the cervix as seen at colposcopy. The efficiency of the spatula in obtaining dyskaryotic cells and improving the cellular quality of smears was compared with that of the Ayre spatula in a controlled trial. More than 17 000 smears were taken from women aged 14-86 years by more than 200 smear takers from 74 centres. Twenty two per cent more dyskaryotic smears were obtained with the trial spatula, and the cellular quality of the smears was improved in all age groups. Although it was associated with a slightly increased risk of bleeding, 83% of users preferred the trial spatula. IntroductionThe difficulty of obtaining accurate samples of the cervix by means of cervical smears has been recognised for many years. Estimates of false negative error rates in patients with severe dysplasia or carcinoma in situ range from 20% to 45% and are mainly due to poor sampling.' 2 Since 1944, when Ayre first advocated a spatula for direct sampling of the cervix,3 various cervical spatulas of differing shape and material have been developed.'4 Although trials of these spatulas have shown improved detection of endocervical cells, most of the trials have been small, and improved detection of cervical epithelial abnormalities has not been reported.

Antigen-induced neutrophil dysfunction in a patient with chronic eczema, recurrent "cold" staphylococcal infections and hyperimmunoglobulinaemia E. In: Guettler F, ed. Inborn errors of immunity and phagocytosis. Lancaster: MTP Press Limited, 1979: 323-30. : Zubler RH, Lange G, Lambert PH, Miescher PA. Detection of immune complexes in unheated sera by a modified '251-Clq binding test. Effect of heating on the binding of Clq by immune complexes and application of the test to systemic lupus erythematosus. J Immunol 1976;116:232-5. 14 Matter L, Schopfer K, Wilhelm JA, Nyffenegger T, Parisot RF, de Robertis EM. Molecular characterization of ribonucleoprotein antigens bound by antinuclear antibodies: a diagnostic evaluation. Arthritis Rheum 1982 ;25:1278-83. '5 Hughes GRV. Systemic lupus erythematosus. In: Connective tissute diseases. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1979:3-72. 6 Sharp CG, Irvin WS, LaRoque RL, et al. Association of autoantibodies to different nuclear antigens with clinical patterns of rheumatic disease and responsiveness to therapy.

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GOOD descriptions of the leucocytes of foetal peripheral blood are sporadic and give little idea of the normal range of variation. Much of the literature dates from 30 years ago or more, when it was largely intended as ammunition for the monophyletic-polyphyletic controversy.Recent advances in the knowledge of lymphocyte function and interest in the development of immunological potentiality have called for a new look at the blood leucocytes and lymphoid tissues of the human foetus. With this in mind we have carried out blood counts on 137 foetuses; the results are presented and some of their implications discussed. MATERIALS AND METHODSOne hundred and thirty-seven foetuses were studied, ranging in age from 8 to 27 weeks, and falling into two groups. Ninety-six were from pregnancies therapeutically terminated by abdominal hysterotomy. Most of these terminations were done for psychatrjc reasons, and the rest because of renal, cardiac neurological or other diseases, none of whch are likely to have any lrect effect on the foetus up to the time of operation. These may therefore be considered as furnishg samples of normal foetal blood.The second group consisted of 41 abortions, usually of unknown cause but occasionally attributed to cervical incompetence or confessedly self-induced. These foetuses are in general older ones, and since they have undergone a vaginal delivery, often prolonged, their blood counts probably do not reflect the state of affairs in a normal undisturbed pregnancy.Most of the hysterotomy specimens were collected at operation, often with the membranes intact, and all foetuses were kept cold in a thermos with ice until blood could be taken. The blood was aspirated by puncture of the heart with a frne needle, sequestrene (dipotassium EDTA) was the anticoagulant. With the smallest foetuses it was sometimes necessary to get blood from the cut end of the umbilical cord by gently squeezing the placenta. Nucleated cell counts were performed as for routine leucocyte counts, i.e. using a I in 10 dilution of blood in z per cent acetic acid with methyl violet, and counting at least ZOO cells in a Neubauer chamber. Films were stained with May-Griinwald-Giemsa and for the differential zoo leucocytes were counted (100 in the very small foetuses), irrespective of the number of nucleated red cells. At the same time the foetuses were weighed and the Crown-Rump and Crown-Heel length measured.

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