Non-Invasive Prenatal Analysis (NIPA) for RhD now available

Lifeblood now provides Non-Invasive Prenatal Analysis (NIPA) for blood group genotyping to determine the RhD status of the fetus.
 
This new service will aid in assessing pregnancies at risk of Haemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN) and help guide clinical management. 
 
NIPA avoids the requirement for amniocentesis as it is now possible to extract cell-free fetal DNA (ffDNA) from the peripheral blood of the mother and analyse it for the presence of the RHD gene.
 
This test will complement the anti-D quantitation and intrauterine transfusion support that Lifeblood already provides for the management of pregnancies at risk of HDFN. 
 
NIPA is currently performed by Lifeblood and publicly funded for high-risk pregnancies in the following categories:

1. Rh D negative pregnant women who are RhD alloimmunised; 
2. Rh D negative pregnant women with obstetric indications such as severe fetomaternal haemorrhage during pregnancy, or intrauterine death; or 
3. Other scenarios in non-sensitised RhD negative pregnant women with a relative contraindication to routine antenatal anti-D prophylaxis, such that the fetal RhD genotype result assists in the risk-benefit assessment to guide anti-D management decisions (for example, prior allergic reaction to the RhD immunoglobulin, or cultural/religious beliefs). 
    

NIPA testing can be performed from 12 weeks gestation and will require two additional EDTA blood samples to be collected for testing. Samples must arrive at Lifeblood within 72 hours of collection.
 
The NIPA service will improve clinical practice in transfusion medicine by giving clinicians an additional diagnostic marker to guide them in determining the appropriate management of a high-risk pregnancy.
 
NIPA will reduce the stress and trauma on the mother as it eliminates the need for more invasive and risky sampling procedures.
 
This is particularly helpful for women with a complicated obstetric history who can be informed as early as 12 weeks gestation whether or not their pregnancy will be at risk due to HDFN.
 
For more information please see the NIPA for Blood Group Genotyping Information Sheet which can be found here.