Impact of awareness on routine antenatal antibody screening: A prospective study

• Main Authors: Soumya Das, Shamee Shastry, Poornima B Baliga
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2019-01-01
• Series: Global Journal of Transfusion Medicine
• Subjects: Alloimmunization; antenatal antibody screening; awareness
• Online Access: http://www.gjtmonline.com/article.asp?issn=2468-8398;year=2019;volume=4;issue=1;spage=84;epage=86;aulast=Das

Introduction: A screening test is performed to detect potential health disorders or diseases in people who do not have any symptoms of disease. The major objective of a screening program is to reduce morbidity, mortality and the disease burden. Antenatal antibody screening in India is mainly focused on the detection of anti-D in RhD-negative mother. Hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn can also be caused by the antibodies directed against other minor red cell antigens among RhD-positive women. Hence, the study was planned to analyze the influence of creating awareness among clinicians and patients towards implementing the universal antibody screening for pregnant women. Materials and Methods: The obstetricians as well as the patients were made aware of the benefits of the screening test at regular intervals during the study period regarding the universal antenatal antibody screening. Results: During the study period, a total of 2336 samples from antenatal cases were screened for red cell antibodies. A positive outcome was evident by the rise in number of RhD-positive samples received in the laboratory for antenatal antibody screening from 18.2% during the prestudy phase to 72.8% in the second phase of the study after the intervention. Conclusion: In a developing country like India, extra efforts should be put by the transfusion service in collaboration with hospital transfusion committee to sensitize the obstetricians about the need and obvious benefits of performing antibody screening in all antenatal cases.