Rh0(D) and Du cord blood typing during elective abortion operations.

During dilatation and suction or evacuation abortion operations, the umbilical cord can be delivered and sufficient fetal blood can be sampled to type for the Rho(D) and Du factors in about 30% of cases at 14 menstrual weeks of pregnancy. By 16 weeks, more than 75% can be sampled successfully. When cord blood can be Rh typed, about 40% of the fetuses of Rh negative women were found also to be Rh negative. In these cases, anti-Rho(D) immunoglobulin prophylaxis is unnecessary.