ollie

Thank you for the kind words and wisdom. Moments ago I received a call from the high risk doctor who scheduled me for molecular testing. Just as an FYI for anyone interested or those who may run across this topic out of need in future, she volunteered the estimate of $450 and said it will take 5 - 7 business days to get results. Thanks again for the insight; I feel encouraged.

Thanks for the response, StevenB!

I have been reading your threads about weak D and am thankful for the chance to ask questions of the experts. I will try to keep brief, but I am happy to answer any follow-up questions you have. Forgive my non-technical, common language. I hope my ignorance does not get in the way! I am 26 weeks into my fourth pregnancy (first one ended in miscarriage). For all of my pregnancies until this one (except for another exception I will explain) I have typed A+..."true" A+ with no weak D disclaimer. The exception I mentioned is one I just learned this morning, occurring in 2009 when I delivered my first-born via C-section. I was typed just before surgery as A-. My newborn was subsequently typed as A-, so no need for RhIG. Throughout pregnancy with my second-born, I was A+, as of 10/2013. Now, in this pregnancy, they (my OB's office) started telling me I am A- and will need RhIG. I questioned the "change" and was told that testing is more sensitive now, so this just showed up. When I started reading I found literature about weak D, so I asked more questions. Today I saw my results and they read A-, weak D+. All tests were from the same lab June 2008 - present. Additionally, my antibody screen was last week and came back negative. Long story short(er), today I met with my high risk doctor (due to gestational diabetes) and she told me about an experience she had earlier this year with a patient just like me who had always typed Rh+. At that time, in February, the doctor called a blood bank in a larger city to see if RhIG was recommended. She was told it was not. I asked her if the testing so far has shown me to be weak D or if there is a chance I am partial D. She said she would like to find that out and it may require further testing if the hospital's lab did not or cannot do the further testing. She then called that same blood bank in the larger city and was told something more recent has come out to suggest treating all weak D types as Rh-. Is anyone familiar with a change in recommendations? I saw someone on the board quote the 17th edition of AABB's Technical Manual as stating not to treat weak D patients as Rh-. Maybe there is a new recommendation after that? I listened to Dr. Connie Westhoff's podcast on bbguy.com from April 2016 and it supports treating weak D types 1 - 3 as Rh+. I am not trying to avoid RhIG altogether...just if it is not medically necessary; my baby's best interest is my greatest concern. Any insight is appreciated! In case it matters or anyone is interested, my mom is O+, dad A+, and husband O+. Thank you!