Detection of fetal rhd status from maternal blood by a noni?nvasi?ve prosedure

ABSTRACTObjective: Anti D Immunoglobulin is applied to all pregnant women having RHD incompability to prevent hemolytic disease of the newborn. The aim of this study is to determine fetal RhD status in the Rh incompatible pregnancies with an non-invasive technique; free fetal DNA isolation from maternal circulation. In the case of Rh incompability especially with a history of previous fetal anemia, it can be beneficial to know Rh status antenatally in terms of monitoring fetuses with Rh positive status consciously.Methods: Total free DNA was isolated in 50 Rh (-) pregnant women, who had RhD alloimmunisation with their husbands. The gene in isolated DNA is investigated with TaqMan prob and real time PCR by using primers belonging to exon 7 of the RhD gene.Results: We analyzed 50 RhD negative women by using quantitative real time PCR technique. Three of them were RhD (-) and the rest of them were found to be RhD (+). After birth one of the infants who were analyzed as RhD (+) were found to be RhD(-).Conclusion: The detection of fetal RhD status by using a noninvasize method from maternal circulation is found to be possible. Assessing fetal RhD status non invasively by using free fetal DNA in maternal blood will be money saving for unnecessary indirect coombs test and unnecessary Anti D immunglobuline applications that is used in RH incompatible pregnancies. This study will throw a fresh light on prenatal diagnosis.