Funding outcome

Prevention of hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) through the injection of Rh immune globulin (RhIg) revolutionized pregnancy care in the 1960s. In Canada, all pregnant Rh D negative women are given a prenatal dose of RhIg at week 28 of pregnancy. Only 60% of these women are carrying an RhD positive baby and are at risk for this disease . For the remaining women the RhIg given is unnecessary. This unnecessary prenatal RhIg treatment could be avoided if the baby's blood type were known before the 28 week treatment. The ability to determine the Rh blood group of the fetus by testing the free fetal DNA that circulates in the mother's blood has allowed for use of this approach in many countries. With prediction of baby's Rh type it is possible to determine which women require the administration of RhIg. The need for this testing in Canada has been championed by a group of physicians and scientists identified as the Canadian National Rh Working group. Their support has led to a Canadian Blood Services plan for implementation of a national testing program. To prepare for the implementation of this test in 2022, additional technical and community engagement work are required. The objectives of this project are to engage with the midwifery, family medicine and obstetrics clinical communities to arrange for the blood samples required to determine the performance characteristics of the new test. These same community members will be asked to assess the effectiveness of patient communication tools, test reports and clinical guidance documents being developed by Canadian Blood Services. This project will help support the implementation of an important prenatal testing program in Canada.