Perinatal Testing Services - Edmonton, AB

Canadian Blood Services, Edmonton, AB-NWT Diagnostic Services Laboratory provides pregnancy screening for blood type and red blood cell antibodies. This screening provides information to assist physicians, midwives and nurse practitioners in ensuring the appropriate management of a pregnancy for both the mother and baby.

Testing is provided by Edmonton, AB-NWT Diagnostic Services for: Alberta, Northwest Territories, western Nunavut and Lloydminster, Saskatchewan.

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Recommended Perinatal Test Guidelines

Recommended Perinatal Test Guidelines AB (PDF)

Additional samples may be submitted for patients at increased risk of allo-immunization (previous transfusion, fetal trauma or procedure, IV drug use, etc.).

Canadian Blood Services (CBS) provides screening of pregnant women for blood type and red blood cell antibodies under a program funded by BC Ministry of Health. This screening provides information to assist physicians, midwives and nurse practitioners in ensuring the appropriate management of a pregnancy for both the mother and baby. 

Clinical scenarioSample submission timelines
First Pregnancy 
    ABO and Rh(D) typing 
    Red Cell Antibody Screen 
Initial visit and at 26-28 weeks gestation 
Rh positive – previous report on file – antibody screen negative 
    ABO and Rh(D) typing 
    Red Cell Antibody Screen 

*Initial visit

*Additional samples may be submitted for patients at increased risk of allo-immunization (previous transfusion, fetal trauma or procedure, IV drug use, etc.)

Rh negative – antibody screen negative 
    ABO and Rh(D) typing 
    Red Cell Antibody Screen 
Initial visit and 26-28 weeks gestation sample to be collected prior to RhIG injection) 
Clinically significant antibodies detected 
    ABO and Rh(D) typing 
    Red Cell Antibody identification /
    exclusions 
    Titration 
Initial visit and monthly during 1st and 2nd trimester 
Every two weeks during 3rd trimester 
Clinically significant antibodies with critical titres 
    ABO and Rh(D) typing 
    Red Cell Antibody identification /     
    exclusions 

Initial visit and monthly during 1st and 2nd trimester 
Every two weeks during 3rd trimester

Note: Clinically significant antibody will no longer be titred once it has reached a critical value of ‘16’.  If the clinically significant antibody identified is a Kell sytem antibody (i.e. anti-K), titration is not required as detection of anti-K is a critical result regardless of titre strength. 

Note: Patient referral to Maternal-Fetal Medicine Clinic is strongly recommended.  

Father 
   ABO and Rh (D) Typing 
   Red Blood Cell     
   Phenotyping 
When the mother has a clinically significant antibody the father’s specimen is requested by CBS for phenotyping to predict the risk of hemolytic disease of the fetus/newborn (HDFN).

Available Perinatal Tests

Perinatal Requisitions and Forms

TEST

REQUISITIONS AND FORMS

Maternal Routine Testing (ABO/Rh Typing/Antibody Screen)                                                

Perinatal Testing for Red Blood Cell Serology (PDF)
(Electronic Fillable Form)

Father's Rh Typing (when maternal Rh is negative) - when requested by Canadian Blood Services

Perinatal Testing for Red Blood Cell Serology (PDF)
(Electronic Fillable Form)

Fetal Genotyping from Maternal Plasma Requisitions

Testing is only available for Canadian residents. Please contact International Blood Group Reference Laboratory for testing inquires. https://ibgrl.blood.co.uk/services/molecular-diagnostics/fetal-genotyping-diagnostic/

International Blood Group Reference Laboratory Requisition DS (PDF) (Use the link to download the Fetal Genotyping from Maternal Blood form FRM4674)

Fetal Genotyping from Maternal Plasma (PDF)
(Electronic Fillable Form)

Guidance for Completion of International Blood Group Laboratory Requisition

Consent for Release of Neonatal Test Results (PDF)

Fetal Genotyping from Maternal Plasma ConsentConsent for Release of Neonatal Test Results (PDF)

Fetal Genotyping from Maternal Plasma Instructions

Fetal Genotyping on Maternal Plasma Collection Site Instructions AB (PDF)

Fetal Genotyping on Maternal Plasma Maternal Fetal Medicine Instructions (PDF)

Fetal Genotyping from Amniotic Fluid Requisitions

Versiti Wisconsin Immunohematology (PDF)
Perinatal Testing for Red Blood Cell Serology (PDF)
(Electronic Fillable Form)

Fetal Genotyping from Amniotic Fluid Instructions                  

Fetal Genotyping on Amniotic Fluid Testing Criteria and Collection Instructions (PDF)

Critical Values

Test interpretation — Perinatal critical values

Diagnostic Services will provide a verbal report to the requesting facility or physician in the following cases:

  • Anti-K is detected in maternal sample (when first time detected in the pregnancy and/or with a new pregnancy).
  • Clinically significant antibody with a titre ≥ 16 in maternal sample (when first time detected in the pregnancy and/or with a new pregnancy). 
  • Significant increase in antibody titre detected during a pregnancy.
  • New clinically significant antibody detected in the third trimester of the pregnancy.

Requesting Test Results

Perinatal test results are available in Netcare for patients with an Alberta PHN or Unique Lifetime Identifier (ULI) number. Perinatal test results are also available by fax request.

Monday to Friday: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. MT
Weekends and statutory holidays: closed
 
Please use clinic/health care provider/hospital letterhead when requesting results and provide the following information:

•    Patient first and last name
•    PHN (Personal Health Number) or ULI
•    Date of birth
•    Requesting physician
•    Facility/clinic fax number

Fax completed clinic/health care provider letterhead to Edmonton Diagnostic Services at: 780-431-8747