Fetomaternal haemorrhage test (Kleihauer)
Transplacental haemorrhage, commonly referred to as Fetomaternal haemorrhage (FMH), may occur during pregnancy or at delivery. The presence of fetal cells in the maternal circulation could lead to maternal immunisation to the RhD antigen if the mother is RhD negative and the baby RhD positive.
Fetomaternal haemorrhage can result in haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) in subsequent pregnancies. It is important to assess the volume of FMH to determine the dose of anti-D immunoglobulin required by a non-sensitised RhD negative woman to prevent sensitisation
Not applicable
The sample should be taken within 1 hour of a manual delivery, manual removal of the placenta or a sensitising event and the result should be available within 72 hours so that additional anti-D can be administered if required.
This test may be sent to our reference laboratory for confirmation by flow cytometry.
Record last updated
August 19, 2025
Sample Container
4ml EDTA Vacutainers (Lavender top)
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Test Results
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Please contact the Customer Service Team Monday to Friday from 8:30am – 6:00pm on 0203 313 5353. Alternatively, see the Pathology User Guide for how to contact the relevant department. If advice is not urgent you can also email your query to Imperial.nwlpcustomerservice@nhs.net
Additional tests may be added by discussion with the relevant laboratory. The time limit for adding additional tests to a sample already received in the laboratory will depend on the type of sample and the department it was sent to.
Information on the repertoire of tests performed by pathology, including reference ranges, turnaround times and specimen requirements, can be found in the test directory.
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NWLP operates UKAS accredited medical laboratories as per the references below. The current scope of accreditation for all NWLP’s laboratories can be found on the UKAS website.
UKAS accredited medical laboratory/medical diagnostic service:
- Clinical Biochemistry No. 8673
- Haematology and Blood Transfusion No. 8674
- Infection & Immunity Sciences (Including Immunology, Virology, Microbiology and Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics ) No. 8659
- Cellular Pathology (Including Histopathology, Cytology and Molecular Pathology) No. 9615
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UKAS requires the laboratories to be accredited for a particular repertoire/scope (ISO15189), any changes or additions to repertoire require assessment by UKAS (extension to scope).
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INSTRUCTION SHEET FOR BLOOD SAMPLE COLLECTION
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Our accreditations
Upholding excellence in diagnostic standards
Our laboratories are accredited by the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) against the international standard ISO15189:2022. UKAS is the accreditation body for the UK that assesses medical laboratories.
Find out more about our accreditations on the UKAS website.
UKAS website