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Kleihauer Betke Test
Test CodeKBT
Alias/See Also
KBT
Preferred Specimen
5.0 mL whole blood (1.0mL minimum)
Instructions
Maternal blood should be collected as soon after delivery as possible.
Transport Container
EDTA (lavender/purple top)
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 6 hours, Refrigerated: 24 hours, Frozen: unacceptable
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Cord blood and serm samples are unacceptable.
Limitations
Adults with hematological disorders may show differences in the staining pattern due to increased levels of fetal-type cells. Perform test immediately after delivery to minimize effect of ABO incompatibility. Maternal antibody reactive with fetal A and B antigens may remove many of the fetal cells from the maternal circulation. Seventeen percent of pregnant women have a rise in fetal hemoglobin above the upper limit of normal starting at 8 to 10 weeks gestation; however, this will usually decrease to normal levels at 36 weeks gestation.
Reference Range
No fetal cells detected
Clinical Significance
The cytological detection of cells containing fetal hemoglobin is of importance in determining the distribution of fetal hemoglobin in red cells. It is also useful in determining the presence of fetal red blood cells in the maternal circulation.
