Topic Overview
An obstetric panel is a group of blood tests done to
check the health of a woman before and during early pregnancy. The results of
these tests can help find certain problems during the pregnancy. They can also
help guide any treatment needed for a woman during pregnancy or for a baby
immediately after birth.
Blood type,
antibody screening, and a
complete blood count (CBC) are all part of an
obstetric panel. Your doctor can check to see if you have
Rh-negative blood. If you have Rh-negative blood and
your baby has Rh-positive blood, this is called
Rh incompatibility. Although it is not known for sure
what the baby's blood type is, steps can be taken to prevent problems caused by
the incompatibility.
Other tests in the panel show if an infection
such as
syphilis or
hepatitis B is present. Another test can show if you
are immune to
rubella, also known as German measles. You may also be
tested to see if you are infected with
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
For
more information, see the topics:
References
Other Works Consulted
- Fischbach FT, Dunning MB III, eds. (2009).
Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests, 8th ed.
Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
- Pagana KD, Pagana TJ (2010). Mosby’s Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests, 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby Elsevier.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
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| Primary Medical Reviewer | Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine |
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| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Siobhan M. Dolan, MD, MPH - Reproductive Genetics |
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| Last Revised | April 4, 2012 |
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