Rh

This course explores Natera’s Fetal RhD Noninvasive Prenatal Test (NIPT) for Rh negative pregnant patients, providing everything clinicians need to know — from scientific foundations through ordering, interpreting, communicating, and incorporating the test into clinical workflows. We begin with the background: why RhD status matters, how Rh negative individuals risk alloimmunization when carrying an RhD positive fetus, and what complications can arise in current and future pregnancies. Then we’ll dive into how Natera’s test works: using cell-free fetal DNA drawn from the maternal blood as early as nine weeks gestation to noninvasively determine fetal RhD antigen status, including detecting common pseudogene and hybrid RHD variants that are especially relevant in diverse populations. We'll compare this to standard of care (giving Rh immune globulin prophylactically to all Rh negative mothers) and explain where the RhD NIPT can reduce unnecessary treatment, conserve RhIg resources (especially amid shortages), and improve precision in care. Next, you’ll learn how to order the test: eligibility criteria (Rh negative status, risk of alloimmunization, unavailable or heterozygous paternal typing, etc.), sample and gestational age requirements, how it integrates with existing Panorama / Horizon / women’s health panels, what forms or kits to use, expected turnaround times, and regulatory or payer coverage basis. We also cover in depth how to interpret the results: what it means to get a “RhD positive fetus” vs “RhD negative fetus” result, sensitivity (100% in clinical validation) and specificity (~99.3%), how to handle rare or ambiguous results, what to do when the result is uninformative or nonreportable, and how to decide when immediate feedback to patient is needed (e.g. when there is risk of hemolytic disease) vs when findings are extraneous or can wait. We will include how to communicate results to patients: how to explain what fetal RhD NIPT can and cannot do, manage expectations, discuss next steps (e.g. need for RhIg), consequences of alloimmunization, and follow-up plans. The curriculum will also touch on product background: the validation study (655 RhD negative patients, confirmed outcomes via newborn serology) which demonstrated excellent performance, coverage policies (commercial payer coverage, criteria) and how this test fits within Natera’s women’s health suite. You’ll also see module content today, microlearning videos, case studies (e.g. in diverse ethnicities, variants, rare gene configurations), and interactive components. For engagement, we’ll go through swimlane workflows: “Get Started → Intro to Genetics / Immune Rh biology → Product Module (Fetal RhD NIPT) → Ordering & Interpretation → Patient Discussion → Follow-up & Clinical Management → Monitoring and Feedback” plus tools such as website integration, emails for providers, training via sales / clinical liaisons, and use of AI chatbot support. By the end of this course, learners will know when fetal RhD testing is indicated, how to order and interpret results with confidence, how to differentiate urgent vs non-urgent findings, and how to have informed, clear discussions with patients about risks, benefits, and next steps — ultimately enabling more precise, efficient, and patient-centered care in pregnancies involving Rh negative mothers.