Quick Review Cards for Medical Laboratory Science

Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn

(HDFN)

Immunohematology Review 481

ABO Rh

Mothers at risk Usually group O Rh neg

First child affected? Yes Not usually

Frequency Common Uncommon

Severity Mild Can be severe

DAT* Weak pos or neg Strong pos

Spherocytes? Yes Rare

Predictable? No Yes (maternal ab screen)

Preventable? No Yes (RhIG)

*Strength of rxn doesn’t correlate with severity of disease.