RHESUS IMMUNIZATION

CAN THE INDIRECT COOMBS TEST BE NEGATIVE IN A RH NEG MOTHER DURING HER SECOND PREGNANCY(16WEEKS GESTATION) , 4 YEARS AFTER HER FIRST BABY WHO IS RH POS AND SHE WAS NOT GIVEN ANTI D IN THE FIRST PREGNANCY?

[Elaine Brown, MD]

Hi!
Yes, it can, and that is obviously a very good thing!  It will be important to re-check at approximately 28 weeks to be sure that nothing has changed.  Sometimes a person who is sensitized will have an undetectable antibody level early on, but as the antigenic load increases ( the baby grows more blood cells ) the antibody titre rises.  In other cases the person may not be sensitized--obviously this is the best option!
Good luck!
Dr B