IS ANTENATAL ANTIBODY SCREENING WORTHWHILE IN CHINESE

A total of 1997 pregnant women were screened during their first antena tal visit for irregular antibodies for the prevention of haemolytic di sease of the newborn. Patient sera were tested against a panel of grou p O screen cells including one with the expression of Miltenberger det erminants GP.Mur. 17 women (0.85%) had irregular antibodies of which f our were of potential clinical significance, including one with anti-D , two with antt-E and one with anti-D, anti-E and anti-G. Although ant enatal antibody screening is mandatory in Western populations, our res ults suggest that this mag not be necessary in the Chinese population except for those who are Rh D-negative or who have a history of haemol ytic disease of the newborn.