Closing the Rh immune globulin utilization gap

A simple and effective system, designed to achieve 100% utilization of Rh immune globulin in a general hospital, is presented. During a one-year period, all Rh-negative women exposed to events capable of inducing Rh sensitization were identified. In every case the protection of these women was verified. Four major oversights were discovered and immediately corrected, resulting in adequate protection of all Rh-negative women at risk of Rh sensitization. The system is compared with two other successful programs currently in use. The role of the Pathology Department, as a fail-safe mechanism to close potential loopholes in a Rh prophylaxis program, is emphasized.