Attapong Sinkitjasub. Comparison of fetal red cell in maternal blood count by kleihauer-betke test and flow cytometry method . Master's Degree(Transfusion Science). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2007.
Comparison of fetal red cell in maternal blood count by kleihauer-betke test and flow cytometry method
Abstract:
The objective of this study was to compare the statistical significance and
correlation of quantitative fetal red cell in maternal blood count by Kleihauer-Betke
test and flow cytometry method. This study was randomized and 52 venous blood
samples (EDTA) were collected after daily routine CBC from postpartum patients. All
samples was tested by Kleihauer-Betke acid elution stain technique for quantitative
fetomaternal hemorrhage as fetal hemoglobin resists elution from red cells under acid
condition while mother hemoglobin is eluted and remains fetal red cells in darkly stain.
The results were then compared using linearity statistics and correlated to a parallel
study quantitating fetomaternal hemorrhage by flow cytometry which murine
monoclonal antibodies directed against fetal hemoglobin were conjugated to
fluorescein isothiocyanate and used in a flow cytometric assay.
A total of 16 samples from 52 maternal venous blood samples were found to be
hemoglobin F-Positive by both methods. Two samples from 36 hemoglobin FNegative
which were detected by flow cytometric assay were found in a small number
of fetal red blood cells positive in Kleihauer-Betke acid elution stain technique, both
methods showed good correlation(r=0.935, p<0.001).
In conclusion, for the assessment of fetomaternal hemorrhage, the Kleihauer-
Betke test is convenient, simple, rapid, low cost and reliable compared with the flow
cytometry method which is considered to be the gold standard method. However, the
clinical data obtained may be too small in positive sample size, the larger positive
sample size has yet to be determined for more accurate clinical data