Fetal Blood Group Genotyping Now Available in Ontario – Advancing Precision Prenatal Care
Prenatal Screening Ontario (PSO) is pleased to share that publicly funded fetal blood group genotyping (FBGG) is now available in Ontario. These new tests expand PSO’s services and support more personalized, efficient, and equitable prenatal care for pregnant individuals across Ontario. Requisitions are now available!
About FBGG Tests
These are prenatal tests that use cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from a pregnant individual’s blood sample. Two publicly funded tests will be integrated into routine prenatal care for eligible individuals:
1. Fetal RHD Screening: Identifies the fetal RhD status in RhD negative pregnancies, enabling targeted and appropriate use of RhD immune globulin (RhIG).
- If the fetus is RhD negative → RhIG is not required
- If the fetus is RhD positive → RhIG is recommended
2. Alloimmunized FBGG (Allo-FBGG): Determines the fetal antigen status in pregnancies with anti-D, C, c, E and/or anti-K (Kell) antibodies to guide monitoring for hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN).
Why This Matters
Blood group incompatibility remains an important consideration in obstetrical care, as red blood cell alloimmunization can have significant impacts on both current and future pregnancies.
This approach enables:
- Evidence-based, patient-centered care
- Advancing precision medicine through a more targeted approach to preventing alloimmunization and HDFN
- Reducing unnecessary interventions
- Improved stewardship of RhIG supply
- More efficient use of specialist resources
- Enhanced patient experience
What This Means for Health-Care Providers
PSO is here to help guide every step of the way. The supports below are designed to streamline clinical workflows while ensuring appropriate follow-up and referral when indicated.
- Requisitions, clinical flowchart for RhD negative pregnancies and clinical flowchart for alloimmunized pregnancies to support counselling, test ordering interpretation and follow-up
- Test results available in Ontario Laboratory Information System (OLIS)
- Integration into the updated Ontario Perinatal Record (OPR)
- Province-wide availability, with sample collection through community and hospital laboratories
My Screening Pathway
Visit My Screening Pathway, an interactive online tool designed to help pregnant individuals explore their prenatal screening options by answering a few short questions.
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Virtual educational sessions on prenatal screening and nuchal translucency quality assurance are available upon request for health‑care providers.