RAPID FETAL HEMOGLOBIN ESTIMATION ASSAY DURING CORDOCENTESIS

A method for rapid estimation of fetal blood content during cordocente sis is described. This procedure gives an opportunity to determine the contamination of the fetal sample by maternal blood as soon as possib le. The method is based on the ability of fetal hemoglobin to resist d enaturation in alkaline conditions, and can be used routinely. Fetal b lood samples show a lower degradation rate (range 1.2-8.2%) compared t o the maternal samples (range 35.0-52.5%). The method has the capacity to discriminate fetal and maternal samples with regard to their fetal hemoglobin content.