NOTE. Paired sera were collected (one before the third month of gestation and one at delivery) from 719 pregnant women. Four serologic tests for antibody to EBV were performed. Using the immunofluorescence technique [1] with three EBV antigens (P3HR1 cells as viral capsid antigen, P3HRI superinfected Raji cells as EA, and Raji cells as nuclear antigen), titers of IgG and IgM antibodies to viral capsid antigen, antibodies to EA, and antibodies to nuclear antigen were measured. Only results for antibody to EA are given. The presence of antibody to EA in both early and late samples of serum was considered as indicating an active persistent EBV infection [2]. Births were considered normal or pathologic, determined by the condition of the fetus at birth. Pathologic births were divided into two groups: one group consisted of antenatal fetal conditions, including fetuses with malformations or early fetal death (weight, <500 g; gestational age, <28 weeks); another group consisted of perinatal fetal conditions, including fetuses with perinatal death (gestational age, from 28 weeks to full term plus eight days), poor intrafetal growth (<10th percentile), prematurity (gestational age, <37 weeks), or a pathologic state of jaundice, exanthema, or anemia. Statistical analysis was performed by the X2 test. * P value comparing normal and pathologic births.