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We are excited to share that Prenatal Screening Ontario is introducing new tests for pregnant individuals in the province. These tests, fetal RhD screening and Fetal Blood Group Genotyping, will check blood samples from the pregnant person to find out the baby’s blood type. This will help health-care practitioners know who needs extra care during pregnancy.  

We invite you to join one of our Working Groups to help set up these new tests across the province.  

Who can apply?

We are looking for:

  • A registered midwife.

  • People with lived experience, specifically those who are currently pregnant or have been pregnant within the last 5 years, and:

    • Have a RhD-negative blood type and were offered RhoGAM/WinRho injection, and/or

    • Screened positive for antibodies that required additional monitoring (such as blood work, ultrasounds, consultation with a maternal fetal medicine (MFM) specialist). 

We welcome participants from different backgrounds, including a variety of life experiences, races, ethnicities, abilities, and education levels. We are also hoping to have participants from different parts of the province, including rural and remote areas. Your unique perspectives are valuable to this project. 

What's involved?

  • Joining a Working Group to help with the roll-out of these new tests.

    • for example, reviewing and giving feedback on educational materials, helping to create a knowledge-sharing plan, and planning and reviewing the project’s next steps. 

  • Attending virtual Working Group meetings lasting 60-90 minutes, held once every 2-4 weeks or less. 

  • Reviewing meeting materials shared before the meetings.

  • The Working Groups are expected to start in October 2024 and continue for approximately one year. 

    For more details, please refer to the Terms of Reference for the Working Groups we are forming:  

Compensation 

We value your time and will offer compensation for your participation. 

How to apply

Deadline: August 11, 2024

  • If you are a midwife, complete the midwifery application form and email your CV to PSO@bornontario.ca.

Midwifery application

  • If you are a person with lived experience, complete the lived experience application form.

Lived experience application

Questions?

For questions regarding participation or about the expression of interest process, please reach out to PSO@bornontario.ca.

About Prenatal Screening Ontario

PSO is funded by the Government of Ontario to coordinate and oversee the operations of prenatal screening services in Ontario, supporting a cohesive and high-quality screening system. PSO is a program of the province’s maternal, newborn and child registry, the Better Outcomes Registry and Network (BORN) Ontario. 

PSO currently oversees prenatal screening for certain chromosome differences (trisomy 21 and trisomy 18). Ontario’s Ministry of Health has tasked PSO with expanding the screening options available in pregnancy. The initial expansion, planned for 2025, will introduce screening for fetal Rh and other fetal blood group antigens through fetal DNA circulating in the pregnant individual’s blood (fetal blood group genotyping). 

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