Examination ofFoetomaternal Haemorrhage by the Method of Gel Agglutination

Overview

For prevention of Rh(D) haemolytic disease of the foetus or neonate administration of a sufficientamount of specific anti-Rh(D) immunoglobulin is necessary. To this end the amount of foetal erythrocytes in the maternal circulation must be assessed. For this several methods are used. In the presentstudy the authors tested blood samples of Rh(D) negative women after delivery of a Rh(D) positivefoetus, women during the third trimester of gestation, after amniocentesis and after abortion. Theauthors used the gel agglutination technique, some of the samples were moreover examined also by theKleihauer and Betke test. 51 samples from a total 443 were positive in the agglutination test. 3 samplesfrom a total of 72 were positive in the Kleihaueretke test. Only in one instance positivity wasconfirmed in both tests. Ten times significant foetomaternal haemorrhage was confirmed ( ł 0.4 % foetalerythrocytes). The test of gel agglutination is simple and not time consuming, suitable for routinescreening. However, its basic disadvantage is, that when the recommended procedures are respected,it does not make quantification of significant haemorrhage possible and thus of the correct dose ofanti-D immunoglobulin for prevention of alloimmunization of the patients.

Key words:
foetomaternal haemorrhage, prevention of Rh(D) immunization, gel agglutination techni-que, Kleihauer-Betke test