Postpartum assessment of maternal-fetal incompatibility. Use of a programmable calculator for interpretive reporting of laboratory data.

Abstract

THE INCREASED volume and variety of clinical laboratory tests require new approaches in presenting data to the physician so that reports are clear, concise, and informative. In addition, the need for a logical series of data to answer a physician's query has induced us to assemble laboratory tests into studies geared to a specific purpose. As an example, we present a study to determine maternal candidacy for anti-Rho immune globulin serum after pregnancy to prevent Rho-sensitization, with data plus interpretation reported via a programmable calculator.1The study also checks for maternal-fetal ABO incompatibility, and, if present, for homologous antibodies in the infant's cord blood.2 Programmable Calculator Two major problems arise from this approach to laboratory testing. First, since the study is based on a variable sequence of tests from which subsequent tests are selected according to the result of a preceding test, the series must be monitored for