Patient's question:
Baby (female), Blood Type B, Rh(D): Positive. Direct Antiglobulin Test: Negative. Indirect Antiglobulin Test: Positive. Free Antiglobulin Test: Positive. Mother, Blood Type O, Rh(D): Positive. Unconventional Antibody Screening and Identification: Negative, IgG-B Titer: 512. Could you please explain how to interpret the serological tests for neonatal hemolytic disease?Doctor's answer:
The purpose of serological testing for hemolytic disease of the newborn is to diagnose hemolytic disease of the newborn caused by blood type incompatibility between the mother and fetus. ABO-HDN is caused by ABO blood type incompatibility between the mother and fetus. Maternal IgG anti-A or anti-B antibodies pass through the placenta into the fetal circulatory system, destroying fetal red blood cells. This disease is most common in A or B type infants born to O-type mothers, associated with IgG anti-A (B) antibodies in the serum of O-type mothers.