Final answer:
The Kleihauer-Betke test is a blood test that measures fetal hemoglobin in maternal blood to detect fetal-maternal hemorrhage, particularly in managing Rh disease. The Kirby-Bauer method, although a different assay, is used to determine bacterial sensitivity to antibiotics, which helps predict the effectiveness of antimicrobial drugs in patients.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Kleihauer-Betke test, also known as the acid elution test, is a blood test used to measure the presence of fetal hemoglobin in maternal blood. This test is typically used in cases of suspected fetal-maternal hemorrhage, to determine the extent of blood exchange between a fetus and the mother. It's particularly important in Rhesus (Rh) negative mothers who may have been sensitized to Rh-positive fetal blood cells, requiring Rh immune globulin therapy to prevent Rh disease in future pregnancies.
The Kirby-Bauer method, on the other hand, is unrelated to the Kleihauer-Betke test, and is instead a laboratory method to determine the sensitivity of bacteria to antibiotics. It involves the use of antibiotic-impregnated discs placed on a bacterial culture; the size of the zone of inhibition where bacteria do not grow around these discs correlates with the bacteria's sensitivity to the particular antibiotic. This assay helps to predict the therapeutic effectiveness of an antimicrobial drug in a patient by comparing these zones of inhibition to standardized charts that correlate zone sizes with microbial resistance.