Transfusion management of a Chinese pregnant woman with RHD*DEL1 allele.

We report the case of a 33-year-old pregnant Chinese woman who typed as Rh-negative in routine serology. Two injections of RhIG were given and two Rh-negative red cell units were sourced and put aside then returned with a reduced shelf life. RHD*DEL1 allele was determined in this woman by RHD genotyping two month later after delivery occasionally. In this representative case, a pregnant woman with RHD*DEL1 allele can safely be managed as Rh-positive, avoiding the unnecessary procurement of Rh-negative red cells and payment for RhIG injections. We analyzed the cost benefit of using RHD genotyping to guide transfusion management on the Chinese pregnant woman in Beijing where the average salary level is top-ranked in China. Considering the healthcare condition in China, we recommend molecular analysis of serologic Rh-negative early in pregnancy before the Rh-negative transfusion and administration of RhIG become unnecessarily required.