If you are rhesus-negative, you can have the rhesus factor of your unborn child determined starting the completed 11th week of pregnancy (week 11 + 0 p.m.). If your child is rhesus-negative, too, you can decide together with your doctor if you wish to forgo the anti-D prophylaxis.

From a medical viewpoint, it is only useful for rhesus-negative pregnant women who are expecting a rhesus-positive child. This is approximately six out of ten rhesus-negative pregnant women. However, this also means that about four out of ten rhesus-negative pregnant women receive anti-D prophylaxis without any medical need, since their unborn child is rhesus-negative. Nowadays, medical professional associations agree that anti-D prophylaxis in rhesus-negative pregnant women with rhesus-negative unborn children is in fact not necessary.

Just as with many other drugs, it is not free of possible, albeit rare, adverse effects and risks: allergic reactions, anaphylactic shock or a potential infection due to the transmission of pathogens because a human blood product is used. Please contact your doctor for detailed information and advice.

The immune reaction of the maternal immune system to the un-born, rhesus-positive child is prevented through a corresponding precautionary measure, known as anti-D prophylaxis. To ad-minister it, the doctor injects the pregnant woman with special antibodies (immunoglobulins). These immunoglobulins prevent the formation of maternal antibodies. Nearly all pregnant, rhesus-negative women receive anti-D prophylaxis once around the 28th week of pregnancy and then a second time directly after delivery if the child was determined to be rhesus-positive at this point in time.

At the start of your pregnancy, your doctor determines your rhesus factor. If your blood is rhesus-negative and your child’s blood is rhesus-positive, this can lead to complications. This is due to the fact that, if blood cells from your child enter your bloodstream, your body forms antibodies against these rhesus-positive blood cells. If these antibodies are then transmitted to your child via the placenta, your maternal immune system destroys the child’s red blood cells. As a result of this, your child no longer receives a sufficient amount of oxygen. However, oxygen is essential for the healthy development of your child.

The likelihood that blood from your unborn child is transmitted to you is the greatest towards the end of your pregnancy and during delivery. This is generally not a problem for your first pregnancy with a rhesus-positive child. The antibodies formed in the first pregnancy do not cause harm to your unborn child. However, your immune system remembers the “recipe” for forming the anti-bodies – you are sensitized. If you become pregnant once again with a rhesus-positive child, your immune system will form antibodies more abundantly than before. By contrast, if your unborn child is rhesus-negative, your immune system does not form any antibodies which could harm your child.

The rhesus factor is an important blood group characteristic. If a person is rhesus-positive (RhD-positive), he/she has special proteins on the surface of the red blood cells in his/her blood. Conversely, if he/she is rhesus-negative (RhD-negative), these proteins are missing.

Yes, this is possible. You can have the PraenaRhD carried out together with the PrenaTest^®. In this case, only one blood sample is required

The test generally takes 10 business days (Monday to Friday, not including holidays). It starts after the blood sample is received in our laboratory and may be prolonged in the event of a duplicate analysis.

The PraenaRhD is a self-paying service. The test and the associated services are to be paid for privately.

The price for the PraenaRhD is 149 Euro including VAT and shipping, but excluding medical services. Please inquire with your doctor in advance about the total costs incurred.

You can have the PraenaRhD carried out from the completed 11th week of pregnancy (week 11 + 0 p.m.).

With the PraenaRhD you can have the rhesus factor of your unborn child determined from your blood. This can be important if you are Rhesus negative yourself.