A prospective study of routine antenatal enzyme antibody screening demonstrates lack of clinical value in predicting haemolytic disease of the newborn

A prospective study of 7065 consecutive new pregnancies identified 230 with a positive screen, of which 27% (62/230) were 'enzyme-only' antibodies. 32 of these (52%) were potentially clinically important and were all of Rh sp ecificity: 22 anti-E, sewn anti-C-W, two anti-D and one anti-c. However. on ly three of these enzyme-only antibodies (one anti-D, one anti-c and one an ti-E) became reactive by the indirect antiglobulin test (IAT) during the co urse of pregnancy, and all were detected in the routine 34-36-week maternal sample. No babies were affected. and we reaffirm that routine antibody scr eening by enzyme techniques is unnecessary.