title: Measurement of fetal cells in the maternal circulation.
abstract: There is evidence that the quantitation of fetal-maternal hemorrhage may be useful in reducing some of the RhoGAM failures in preventing Rh sensitization. The Betke-Kleihauer technique is a well-established method that has been used to estimate the amount of transplacental hemorrhage. Recently, a kit (Fetaldex) has become available for use in the detection and quantitation of fetal-maternal hemorrhage. Using control blood smears, we compared the results of the Fetaldex kit with those results obtained by the Betke-Kleihauer technique. The data indicate that the Fetaldex method is as accurate as the Betke-Kleihauer technique in detecting and measuring fetal red cells in the maternal circulation.
mesh_terms: D001775:Blood Circulation; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin; D005331:Fetomaternal Transfusion / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin