An obstetric panel is a group of blood tests performed on pregnant women to check blood type, detect antibodies that can harm the baby, and test for sexually transmitted infections and other diseases that could harm the pregnancy or newborn. The specific tests included vary based on the doctor and laboratory used. The panel also checks for RH negative blood and diseases like rubella, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, and HIV. Early detection of antibodies can help doctors support the pregnancy.
An obstetric panel is a group of laboratory tests performed on a pregnant woman. The panel usually involves drawing blood and checking a woman’s blood type, as well as testing for the presence of antibodies that can destroy red blood cells. This series of blood tests can also check for sexually transmitted diseases and other infections that could cause serious harm to the unborn baby, threaten the pregnancy altogether, or cause health problems for the newborn. For example, an obstetrics panel might include testing for syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, the specific list of tests included in an obstetrics panel generally varies based on the doctor and the laboratory used.
When a woman is pregnant, one of the first tests her doctor may order is an obstetric panel. This selection of blood tests is often used to confirm a pregnancy and to obtain the pregnant woman’s blood type. Interestingly, doctors often perform this test on women who already know their blood types in an effort to avoid medical errors if a woman remembers her blood type incorrectly or the doctor makes a mistake recording it in her chart. Additionally, an obstetric panel usually includes a test to evaluate the expectant mother’s blood count as well.
Usually, an obstetric panel also does a test to determine whether or not a woman is RH negative. When a woman is RH negative, it means that her blood is missing a protein called antigen D. This poses no problem for the mother, but if her baby is RH positive, which means that the baby has the protein, it could cause development of antibodies during pregnancy or childbirth. If this occurs, it usually does not threaten the woman’s current pregnancy, but could lead to serious health problems for a developing baby in a subsequent pregnancy.
Blood tests for antibodies in the expectant mother’s blood are also included in an obstetric panel. These antibodies actually seek out and destroy red blood cells and can cause serious health problems for your baby. In some cases, they can even cause the death of the developing baby or lead to death after the baby is born. Early detection of these antibodies may allow doctors to do their best to support a woman’s pregnancy.
Obstetric panels also often test for diseases that can negatively affect a pregnancy. For example, doctors may run tests to check for rubella, commonly known as German measles; syphilis; and hepatitis B and C. Doctors may also test for HIV, with the patient’s permission.
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