How can you prevent ABO incompatibility?
Last updated September 6, 2026.
**Blood compatibility testing helps prevent ABO transfusion reactions, but you cannot prevent an inherited blood type difference between you and your baby.** Before a transfusion, your care team checks your blood type and tests donor blood for compatibility. You can help by confirming your name and date of birth and reporting previous transfusion reactions. During pregnancy, routine blood testing identifies your blood group, but it cannot change your baby's inherited blood type. If your baby has a different ABO type, newborn monitoring helps detect jaundice or anemia that needs treatment.
What to do
- **Confirm your identity:** Check that staff have your correct name and date of birth before a blood transfusion.
- **Share your history:** Tell your care team about any previous transfusions or transfusion reactions.
- **Report symptoms promptly:** Tell staff immediately if you develop chills, fever, back pain, or trouble breathing during a transfusion.
- **Keep prenatal visits:** Complete recommended blood tests and discuss blood group concerns with your pregnancy care clinician.
- **Attend newborn checks:** Follow your baby's discharge plan for jaundice assessment and any recommended bilirubin testing.
- **Act on early jaundice:** Get immediate medical assessment if your baby's skin or eyes turn yellow in the first 24 hours.
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