At Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust we strongly recommend that all pregnant women have the following blood tests:
As with all tests, these blood tests will be discussed with you, and your consent will be required before they are carried out. If you have any questions, please ask your midwife or doctor.
All information regarding you and your pregnancy will be kept confidential within the maternity unit at St Helier Hospital.
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Blood group, e.g. A, B, O, or AB
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Rhesus factor: you will either be rhesus negative or positive
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If you are rhesus negative, you'll be advised to have an injection called Anti-D after any procedures, such as an amniocentesis, or if you have any bleeding after the 12th week of pregnancy. This test will be repeated when you are 28 weeks pregnant.
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If you are rhesus negative, after the birth of your baby a blood sample will be taken from the placenta (afterbirth) to determine your baby's blood group. If your baby is rhesus positive, you will be advised to have the Anti-D injection.
This test will determine whether or not you are anaemic (lacking iron). It does this by measuring the haemoglobin (iron) levels in your blood. If you are anaemic, your midwife or doctor will advise you to take iron supplements.
This test will be repeated when you are 28 weeks pregnant.
This test checks if you have immunity to the Rubella virus. If you contract the Rubella virus during pregnancy, it can cause developmental problems for the baby. Most women have had the Rubella immunisation at school or have had German Measles (Rubella).
If you're not immune, you will be offered the immunisation after your baby is born, and are then advised to avoid pregnancy for three months.
The HIV virus is transmitted through blood, semen and vaginal fluids. Women who are HIV positive can pass the HIV virus to their babies during pregnancy, labour or through breastfeeding. If you decide to have an HIV test and the result is negative, this will not affect any existing or future insurance policies. If the test is positive, then you will be advised to take measures to reduce the chances of passing the HIV virus to your baby. For more information, please speak to your midwife or doctor.
Read more about the HIV antibody test
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease which can cause developmental problems to the baby. However, if diagnosed, the disease can be treated with a course of antibiotics.
This virus, like HIV, is transmitted through blood and some other body fluids. Women affected by this virus may not have any symptoms, but the virus could be passed to the baby at birth. If the mother is diagnosed as being Hepatitis B positive, we advise that the baby is immunised after birth.
This is a test for Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia, an abnormality of the red blood cells, which may cause anaemia. All babies are screened for Haemoglobinopathies at eight days old as part of the Guthrie test.
All of your results will be available to you through your midwife.
Further blood tests may be necessary, but these will be discussed with you if the need arises.
