Transplacental or fetomaternal haemorrhage (FMH) may occur during pregnancy or at delivery and lead to immunisation to the D antigen if the mother is D negative and the baby D positive. This can result in haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDN) in subsequent pregnancies. It is important to assess the volume of FMH to determine the dose of anti-D immunoglobulin (anti-D Ig) required by a D negative woman to prevent sensitisation.
Flow cytometry for accurate detection and quantitation of fetal maternal haemorrhage