1574 – Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) for fetal Rhesus D genotype

Page last updated: 17 April 2024

Application Detail

Description of Medical Service

Cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) present in the maternal circulation is detected by high-throughput non-invasive prenatal testing (HT-NIPT), using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HT-NIPT is used to determine the RhD genotype of a fetus carried by a RhD-negative woman by detecting the presence of cffDNA fragments in the mother’s plasma. The presence of RhD-positive cffDNA would indicate the presence of a RHD gene, which suggests a RhD-positive fetus.

Description of Medical Condition

Approximately one in seven women has a rhesus (Rh) D-negative blood group. RhD negative women carrying an RhD-positive fetus are at risk of becoming sensitised, producing antibodies against the RhD antigen if fetal cells enter the maternal circulation. Sensitisation places the RhD-positive fetus and future RhD-positive pregnancies at risk of haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). If undiagnosed and/or untreated, HDFN carries significant risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality.1 In Australia, the current standard of care is the routine administration anti-D immunoglobulin to all RhD negative pregnant women at 28 and 34 weeks’ gestation, and within 72 hours of delivery of an RhD-positive fetus, or following other obstetric events associated with a risk of fetal-to-maternal haemorrhage.

Reason for Application

New MBS item(s)

Medical Service Type

Investigative

Previous Application Number

Not Applicable

Associated Documentation

Application Form

Application Form (PDF 1583 KB)
Application Form (Word 400 KB)

Consultation Survey

Consultation Survey (PDF 487 KB)
Consultation Survey (Word 71 KB)

PICO Confirmation

PICO Confirmation (PDF 1240 KB)
PICO Confirmation (Word 438 KB)

Assessment Report

-

Public Summary Document

Public Summary Document - updated Dec 2023 (PDF 654 KB)
Public Summary Document - updated Dec 2023 (Word 306 KB)

Meetings for this Application

PASC

11 April 2019

ESC

8-9 October 2020

MSAC

26-27 November 2020
4 December 2023