Kleihauer Test (Blood)

Testing Laboratory

Department

Haematology

Delphic Registration Code (Alpha Code)

KLEB

Test Code (Numeric Code)

1481

Laboratory Handling

Phlebotomy

Collect 1x 1ml EDTA blood sample.

Transport

Transport at ambient temperature (8-24°C).

Registration

Associated Tests

• Kleihauer by Flow Cytometry (Blood)

Synonyms

Fetal Red Cells
FMH
Fetal Maternal Haemorrhage

Turnaround Time

1 day

Turnaround Time: Between 5 hours and 1 day URGENT: 5-hours (Requires Haematologist approval). Non-urgent: 1 day Kleihauer testing is batched. Kleihauer batch cut-off times are: 11:30 and 19:00

Specimen Type

• Whole Blood

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

• EDTA (Lavender Cap)

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

4

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

1

No of Samples Required

1

Paediatric Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

• N/A

Pre-testing Requirements

Requests must be made through a specific request form
The form is available on Hippo as a PDF fillable request form (ID 44330) and orderable on FPIM (ID 44329).
For a PDF fillable form please go to Hippo > Forms and Templates > Clinical Forms Library and search for Kleihauer or CC 7654 then download the PDF (use Google Chrome) CC7654 Request Form or access via the Additional Information tab below.

Aliquot Instructions

Sample Type

• Whole Blood

Minimum Volume (ml)

1

Transport to Lab

Chilled (2 - 8 degrees Celsius)

Additional Referral/Aliquot Information

Kleihauer result of 4 mL or greater packed fetal red cells on a RhD negative mother, needs to be sent to Waikato hospital lab for confirmation by flow cytometry. Please refer to test guide specifically for Kleihauer by Flow Cytometry.

Limitations / Interference

If unfixed slides are stained, all the cells appear as “ghost cells”; including any fetal cells. This will give a false negative result.

Reticulocytes may resemble HbF cells as they also resist acid elution to some extent, but they are usually distinguishable by being much less pink.

Over fixation may partly inhibit elution process giving false positive cells.

The elution process will not be effective if the smear is too thick, adult red cells may not elute properly giving false positive cells.

Uncertainty of Measurement

38%

Resources

• CC7654 Kleihauer Request Form

Contact Information