Constructing a population-based research database from routine maternal screening records: a resource for studying alloimmunization in pregnant women.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Although screening for maternal red blood cell antibodies during pregnancy is a standard procedure, the prevalence and clinical consequences of non-anti-D immunization are poorly understood. The objective was to create a national database of maternal antibody screening results that can be linked with population health registers to create a research resource for investigating these issues.

Study design and methods

Each birth in the Swedish Medical Birth Register was uniquely identified and linked to the text stored in routine maternal antibody screening records in the time window from 9 months prior to 2 weeks after the delivery date. These text records were subjected to a computerized search for specific antibodies using regular expressions. To illustrate the rese

SUBMITTER: Lee BK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3227597 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature