Before proceeding with the case, let's review perinatal testing programs, also called 'Rh prevention programs' since they are designed to prevent HDFN due to anti-D.
Perinatal testing programs have two main purposes:
- To detect at an early stage in pregnancy the presence of any IgG antibody that could cause HDFN in order to treat the infant as soon as possible.
- To determine which patients are candidates for RhIG in order to try to prevent the production of anti-D.
Testing programs include both Rh-negative and Rh-positive patients with childbearing capabilities, but because antibodies other than anti-D only rarely cause HDFN, Rh-negative patients are tested more extensively.
