Kleihauer-Betke stain and flowcytometry

[Rania]

Good day all,

As we all know, the Kleihauer-Betke procedure is used to differentiate fetal cells in the maternal circulation. Our lab uses the Sure-Tech Diagnostic KB Fetal Hemoglobin assay kit. In which a smear is prepared, processed, stained and then examined under the microscope for cells. The Fetal/Adult RBC ratio can then be obtained with a simple equation.

Our lab is considering switching from a subjective fetal screening procedure to an objective flowcytometry procedure.

My question is:

If we do switch to Flowcytometry, do we still have to do an initial fetal screening procedure before refering it to the Flow lab?

Thanks,

Rania:tongue:

[Lcsmrz]

Sounds more of a cost problem than a regulatory one ... anything that gets you to answer will work.

Cheaper to screen out the negatives with an inexpensive kit, or spend money running flow on all of them? Deciding between K-B vs Flow Cytometry is a harder question to answer.

[janet]

I recall reading there are two different options for the flow test....one looking for Rh:postive cells in your Rh:negative mother and one actually looking for HgF. If you go to the California Blood Bank site and search Fetal screen there are some discussions avaliable!