Z36: Antenatal screening

Z36.5: Antenatal screening for isoimmunization

With an ante-natal screening test, certain disorders or abnormalities can be detected before the child is born. The test was done to look at the blood group compatibility between mother and child.

Blood is made up of a liquid part and different blood cells, among other things. Blood cells have certain characteristics on their surface. These characteristics are used to differentiate between different blood groups. The mother and the unborn child can have different blood groups. If the blood groups do not suit one another, it is known as blood group incompatibility. In some cases, then, the mother's body can produce antibodies. The antibodies attack the child's blood cells. If these antibodies get into the child, it can cause the child problems.

To examine blood group compatibility, the mother's blood group can first be determined. There are also tests that can determine the unborn child's blood group from a sample of the mother's blood. It is also possible to look for antibodies in the mother's blood.