Table of Contents
What is Rh incompatibility screening?
Rh incompatibility is a condition that occurs during pregnancy if a woman has Rh-negative blood and her baby has Rh-positive blood. “Rh-negative” and “Rh-positive” refer to whether your blood has Rh factor. Rh factor is a protein on red blood cells.
Which diagnostic test is performed for Rh incompatibility?
A positive indirect Coombs test is a sign of Rh incompatibility. This test uses a blood sample to look for the presence of cell-destroying antibodies within the plasma of your blood. Higher-than-normal levels of bilirubin in your infant’s blood is a sign of Rh incompatibility.
How is Rh incompatibility checked in pregnancy?
Exams and Tests
- A positive direct Coombs test result.
- Higher-than-normal levels of bilirubin in the baby’s umbilical cord blood.
- Signs of red blood cell destruction in the infant’s blood.
When do you screen for Rh?
Your health care provider will recommend a blood type and Rh factor screening test during your first prenatal visit. This will identify whether your blood cells carry the Rh factor protein.
Why is Rh incompatibility important in pregnancy?
During a pregnancy, Rh antibodies made in a woman’s body can cross the placenta and attack fetal blood cells. This can cause a serious type of anemia in the fetus in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than the body can replace them. Red blood cells carry oxygen to all parts of the body.
What is antibody screening test?
An RBC (red blood cell) antibody screen is a blood test that looks for antibodies that target red blood cells. Red blood cell antibodies may cause harm to you after a transfusion or, if you are pregnant, to your baby. An RBC antibody screen can find these antibodies before they cause health problems.
What is Rh testing in pregnancy?
The Rh antibodies screening test is a blood test. It checks your blood for Rh antibodies. If you have Rh-negative blood and have been exposed to Rh-positive blood, your immune system may make antibodies to attack the Rh-positive blood. When a pregnant woman has these antibodies, it is called Rh sensitization.
How does Rh incompatibility affect the baby?
Complications may include: Brain damage due to high levels of bilirubin (kernicterus) Fluid buildup and swelling in the baby (hydrops fetalis) Problems with mental function, movement, hearing, speech, and seizures.
What does antibody screen negative mean in pregnancy?
However, if the test shows that you are Rh negative, which means your red blood cells do not contain the hereditary protein, then you will need another blood test 28 weeks into the pregnancy.
What causes a positive antibody screen?
An RBC antibody screen can find these antibodies before they cause health problems. Antibodies are proteins made by your body to attack foreign substances such as viruses and bacteria. Red blood cell antibodies may show up in your blood if you are exposed to red blood cells other than your own.
Can Rh incompatibility during pregnancy be treated?
Rh incompatibility can be prevented with the use of RhoGAM. Therefore, prevention remains the best treatment. Treatment of an infant who is already affected depends on the severity of the condition. Infants with mild Rh incompatibility may be treated with phototherapy using bilirubin lights.
What are the signs of Rh incompatibility?
Higher-than-normal levels of bilirubin in your infant’s blood is a sign of Rh incompatibility. In a full-term baby who is less than 24 hours old, the levels of bilirubin should be less than 6.0 milligrams per deciliter. Signs of red blood cell destruction in your infant’s blood may indicate Rh incompatibility.
What are the treatment options for Rh incompatibility?
Various treatment options for Rh incompatibility exist. Talk to your doctor about which type of treatment is right for you. One treatment option is when a needle is placed through your uterus into your unborn baby’s abdomen, and then into an umbilical cord vein.
Can a baby inherit the Rh factor from a parent?
A baby can inherit the Rh factor from either parent. Your health care provider will recommend a blood type and Rh factor screening test during your first prenatal visit. This will identify whether your blood cells carry the Rh factor protein.
How do you know if your partner is Rh positive or negative?
If your partner is Rh-positive and you’re Rh-negative, your doctor will look for the following signs of Rh incompatibility. A positive indirect Coombs test is a sign of Rh incompatibility. This test uses a blood sample to look for the presence of cell-destroying antibodies within the plasma of your blood.