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Human parvovirus B19 (B19) infection during pregnancy has been associated with fetal deaths. We conducted several studies to develop data needed to make recommendations for preventing fetal death associated with infection. In the first study, after an outbreak of B19 infection, specimens of cord blood from 47 infants with congenital anomalies, 10 with suspected intrauterine infection, and gestational age-matched controls were tested for IgG and IgM antibodies to B19. None had evidence of recent infection. Next, 192 women with unknown exposure to B19 who had stillbirths or spontaneous abortions were studied. Two patients and two controls had evidence of recent B19 infection. In a second case-control study of women who had stillbirths after outbreaks of erythema infectiosum in area schools, none of the 20 patients or 26 controls were IgM positive at the time of delivery. The rate of infection, as demonstrated by IgM positivity, among 267 pregnant control subjects was approximately 1%. These studies suggest that among pregnant women unselected for exposure to B19, neither infection nor stillbirths are common.

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United States receive antirabies serum of equine origin (ARS) each year. This passive immunization provides rabies antibody immediately as well as apparent protection from infection for 12 to 14 days. After that, antibody from active immunization is usually present.Unfortunately, approximately 16 percent of the persons who receive the equine-origin antirabies serum develop serum sickness; for persons over 15 years of age, this incidence increases to 46 percent (1). Most authorities have agreed that to prevent these reactions a humanorigin rabies immune globulin (HRIG) was needed. This globulin should be not only safer but also as potent as the ARS now available.The Rabies Unit at the National Communicable Disease Center, Public Health Service, has coordinated efforts to develop such a globulin for experimental use and to determine whether it is feasible to produce and use such a product in the field. This report suimmarizes the progress in four areas of this program.1. Collection and fractionation of plasma 2. Potency and animal protection tests 3. Testing in man 4. Anticipating problems that might arise in subsequent development of the globulin.Collection and Fractionation of Plasma Donors, mostly veterinarians, had previously received rabies vacoine. Before donating either a single or double unit of blood, each person received a booster injection of the duck embryo origin rabies vaccine (DEV). The American National Red Cross collected and stored the plasma until it was fractionated; the Medical