The effect of anti-D IgG on D-positive recipients

When one standard prophylactic dose of anti-Rh(D) immunoglobulin (Connaught) (and in one case two doses) was injected into 15 D-positive volunteers it caused no reaction and no measurable alteration in readings of hemoglobin, hematocrit, reticulocytes or bilirubin, although some of the volunteers briefly became weakly direct Coombs'-positive. It is argued that since any isohemagglutinin that may contaminate anti-D IgG must be much less in amount than the anti-D it contains, the contaminating antibody cannot carry a greater potential for harm to a recipient having the corresponding antigen than the anti-D for a D-positive recipient, which is zero. It is suggested that the presence of anti-DC or G in so-called anti-Rh(D) IgG may, in fact, be a mark of excellence. The application of these facts to selection of plasma donors and to tests required before giving prophylactic treatment to women is briefly stated.