Final answer:
Maternal antibodies in a child's blood can lead to inaccurate infectious disease testing results for children under 18 months. The correct answer is option d.
Step-by-step explanation:
A blood sample from the natural mother shall be used for infectious disease testing for tissue donors less than 18 months. This is due to the presence of maternal antibodies in the child's blood, which can lead to inaccurate results in antibody tests. In babies younger than 18 months, these maternal antibodies can mask the true infection.
Status of the baby as they represent the mother's immune response rather than the infant’s. Viral RNA tests are more accurate for infants because they can detect the presence of the virus itself rather than the antibodies. The immune system rejection of transplanted organs is also a key factor.
However, blood group compatibility was once a consideration in infants for organ transplants but has since shifted as research shows the immune response develops over time, meaning there is a window of opportunity for transplantation in infants.