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This is a review of the obstetric histories of women with Kell antibodies who delivered between 1964 and 1983. The majority of women with Anti-Kell in their sera have Kell negative husbands and have been sensitised by blood transfusion. In only six mothers was antibody formation the result of isoimmunisation and all cases where the baby was known to be Kell positive ended in fetal death. Amniocentesis is not helpful in managing these cases, and at times might be misleading, so that other techniques, such as ultrasound, might be more helpful. A review of the literature confirms that Kell isoimmunisation is rare, but that when it does occur the outlook for the baby is poor.

SUMMARY Definitions of 12 physical characteristics of newborn babies that can be used in the assessment of gestational age have been evolved by agreement between workers in Aberdeen and Newcastle, and a system of scoring each characteristic has also been agreed. Trials have been made to determine the degree of correlation between the results of such scoring by different observers. RÉSUMÉ Définition de quelques caractéristiques externes utilisées dans Ľévaluation de Ľâge gestationel du nouveau‐né Des chercheurs à Aberdeen et à Newcastle se sont mis d'accord pour définir 12 caractéristiques physiques des nouveau‐nés pouvant être utilisées dans Ľévaluation de Ľâge gestationel et un systeme de quotations pour chacune de ces caractéristiques. Des essais ont été fait pour déterminer le degre de corrélation entre les résultats de ces quotations attribuées par des observateurs différents. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Die Definition einiger äusseriichcr Charakteristiken, die in der Einsehätzung des schwanger‐schaft lichen Alters bei Neugeborenen venvendet warden Definitionen von 12 physikalischen Charakteristiken bei neugeborenen Babien die in der Einsehätzung des schwangerschaftlichen Alters verwendet werden können sind durch Vereinbarung zwischen Arbeiter in Aberdeen und Newcastle entwickelt worden. Ein System der Einstufung jedes charakteristischen Merkmales ist ebenfalls vereinbart worden. Es werden Versuche gemacht, den Grad der Korrelation zwischen dem Ergebnissen einer solchen Einstufung von verschiedenen Beobachtern festzustellen. RESUMEN La definición de algwias características ex tenuis que sirven para detenniiiar la edad gestational del recién nacido Investigadores en las ciudades de Aberdeen y de Newcastle se han puesto de acuerdo sobre las definiciones de 12 características físicas de recién nacidos, las cuales pueden emplearse en la determinación de la edad gestacional; y han convenido tanbién en un sistema de puntos por cada característica. Se han realizado ensayos para determinar el grado de correlación entre los puntos dados por observadores diferentes.

Summary The sources of error inherent in many commonly used measuring instruments are well understood and documented. This is not the case for ultrasound equipment when used to assess the rate of growth of the fetal skull in utero. This paper describes various sources of error which can affect the measurement of the fetal biparietal diameter; it also describes a method by which an operator might assess his own degree of competence. We conclude that these sources of error have been insufficiently appreciated in the past and while it is possible to determine the growth rate of the fetal skull the time interval necessary to measure this with a clinically realistic degree of confidence is not less than three weeks. If ultrasound methods of measurement are to find a place in clinical practice the techniques need to be more stringently appraised.