Prediction of the outcome of rhesus haemolytic disease of the newborn: additional information using an ADCC assay.

An in vitro test system is described which measures the ability of anti-D sera to lyse Rh(D)-positive red cells. This test was applied to anti-D sera from 11 cases of HDN selected in Glasgow and tested 'blind' in Edinburgh. Evidence is presented to support the view that the ADCC (antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity ) assay can correctly identify those cases where there is a satisfactory clinical outcome despite a high level of anti-D suggesting otherwise. Amniocentesis might therefore be avoided in this group.