Foreword
2nd Edition September 2021
The ANZSBT Council is delighted to publish this second edition of the Guidelines for the laboratory estimation of fetomaternal haemorrhage which like the previous 2002 edition were prepared by the ANZSBT Transfusion Science Committee (TSC). The revision was prompted by Australia’s National Blood Authority (NBA) release of the Prophylactic use of RhD Immunoglobulin in Pregnancy Care guidelines which replace the NBA Guidelines on the Prophylactic Use of RhD Immunoglobulin (Anti-D) in Obstetrics.
This new edition is now consistent with the format of other ANZSBT guidelines and focuses on the laboratory testing and reporting of results.
Scope
These guidelines are intended to provide guidance for pathology service providers performing fetomaternal haemorrhage (FMH) testing.
Detecting and quantifying the volume of a fetal haemorrhage is important in determining the appropriate dose of RhD immunoglobulin (RhD Ig) for RhD negative women following a sensitising event. FMH testing may also be used when assessing fetal welfare.
The laboratory should be aware of the current requirements in complementary standards, or guidelines; for example, those published by the National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council (NPAAC), the Australian and New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion (ANZSBT), The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG), Australia’s National Blood Authority (NBA), the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC), the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) or International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ).