1.

The D antigen
2. They are inherited genes and are present on the surface of RBC’s, they are proteins and only the
RBC’s express the antigen, other blood and tissue cells don’t
3. A weak reacting D antigen or negative result in the Rh D typing procedure
4. HDN was caused primarily by maternal anti-D reacting with D antigen on the fetal red cells, but
through prenatal testing and aggressive use of methods to prevent HDN caused by D antigen,
non-D Rh antigens are now responsible for the largest amount of HDN cases
5. It is important for patients who are going to receive transfusions so that the correct type of
blood will be given, it is also used to ID females at risk for giving birth to an infant with HDN in
family studies and in legal cases to establish percentage
6. The D antigen is highly immunogenic so if Rh D+ blood is transfused to a D- patient the recipient
may develop anti-D alloantibodies and cannot be transfused with D+ after
7. Rh tube typing is more sensitive
8. Because the patient plasma normally contains no natural anti-D antibody
9. They are determined by the allelic genes of the Rh system and inherited from each parent
10. Allel; one of two (or more) forms of a gene responsible for genetic variation
Anti-human globulin test; a sensitive test that uses a commercial anti-human globulin reagent to
detect human globulin coated on red blood cells; antiglobulin test; Coombs’ test
Feto-maternal hemorrhage; the occurrence of fetal blood cells entering into the maternal
circulation before or during delivery
Genotype; the genetic makeup of a cell or organism
Hemolytic disease of newborn; a condition in which maternal antibody targets fetal red blood
cells for destruction
Phenotype; the observable characteristics in a cell or organism as determined both by genetic
makeup and environmental factors
Rh D immune globulin; a concentrated, purified solution of human anti-D antibody used for
injection