The use of maternal plasma for prenatal RhD blood group genotyping

Methods Mol Biol. 2009:496:143-57. doi: 10.1007/978-1-59745-553-4_11.

Abstract

Alloimmunization to the blood group antibody anti-RhD (anti-D) is the most common cause of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. Knowledge of fetal D type in women with anti-D makes management of the pregnancy much easier and avoids unnecessary procedures in those women with a D-negative fetus. Fetal D typing can be performed by detection of an RHD gene in cell-free DNA in the plasma of D-negative pregnant women. The technology involves real-time quantitative polymerase chain reactions targeting exons 4, 5, and 10 of RHD, with the exons 4 and 10 tests performed as a multiplex. Testing for SRY in multiplex with the RHD exon 5 test provides an internal control for the presence of fetal DNA when the fetus is male. Fetal D typing has become the standard of care in England in pregnant women with a significant level of anti-D.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • DNA / blood
  • DNA / genetics*
  • DNA / immunology
  • England
  • Erythroblastosis, Fetal / blood
  • Erythroblastosis, Fetal / diagnosis
  • Erythroblastosis, Fetal / genetics
  • Exons / genetics*
  • Exons / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Isoantibodies / blood
  • Isoantibodies / immunology
  • Male
  • Plasma
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Diagnosis / methods*
  • Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / blood
  • Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / genetics*
  • Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / immunology
  • Rho(D) Immune Globulin

Substances

  • Isoantibodies
  • RHO(D) antibody
  • Rh-Hr Blood-Group System
  • Rho(D) Immune Globulin
  • Rho(D) antigen
  • DNA