1. Prepared by Chen Lossos, MD, PhD and reviewed by Herleen Rai, MD.

A currently pregnant multipara female presents to the hospital with concern for preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM) and fetal distress. The mother’s medical history is notable for a trauma requiring emergency transfusion of multiple units of red blood cells (RBCs), occurring after delivery in her most recent prior pregnancy. The patient’s transfusion history is notable for receiving doses of Rh(D) immunoglobulin (i.e. RhIg) during prior pregnancies.

In the hospital, the mother’s type & screen testing came back as follows:

Due to these results, a subsequent antibody panel was performed. It demonstrated positivity for anti-D and anti-Le^b. A review of her blood bank records did not show a prior history of RBC alloantibodies. The patient’s clinical status worsened and she was taken to the OR for an emergency cesarean section and delivered a pre-term newborn male. On day 2 of life during the infant’s NICU stay, he developed persistent anemia and hyperbilirubinemia (16.4 mg/dl), despite the use of phototherapy.

The infant’s type comes back as follows:

An antibody screen performed on the infant’s sample demonstrates anti-D and anti- Le^b antibodies.

QUESTION: Which of the following regarding this clinical scenario is false?