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What is Rh negative blood?

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What is Rh negative blood?

In short:

Being Rh negative means that you test negative for the presence of the D antigen of the Rh blood group system.

O indicates the ABO type.
Rh NEGATIVE indicates the absence of the D gene from the Rh blood group system.

Here is the longer version:

What is the Rh blood group system?

The Rh blood group system is a human blood group system. It contains proteins on the surface of red blood cells. It is the second most important blood group system, after the ABO blood group system.

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What does “Rh Negative” refer to?

The Rh blood group system consists of 49 defined blood group antigens, among which the five antigens D, C, c, E, and e are the most important. There is no d antigen. Rh(D) status of an individual is normally described with a positive or negative suffix after the ABO type (e.g., someone who is A Positive has the A antigen and the Rh(D) antigen, whereas someone who is A Negative lacks the Rh(D) antigen). The terms Rh factor, Rh positive, and Rh negative refer to the Rh(D) antigen only. Antibodies to Rh antigens can be involved in hemolytic transfusion reactions and antibodies to the Rh(D) and Rh antigens confer significant risk of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn.

1. This is the Rh-positive blood cell. 2. This is the Rh-negative blood cell. 3. These are the antigens on the Rh-positive blood cell that make it positive. The antigens allow the positive blood cell to attach to specific antibodies.

What is the Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn?

Hemolytic disease of the newborn

What is the Rhnull phenotype?

Golden Blood: Rh Null
Rhnull individuals have no Rh antigens (no Rh or RhAG) on their red blood cells. This rare condition has been called “Golden Blood”. As a consequence of Rh antigen absence, Rhnull red blood cells also lack LW and Fy5 and show weak expression of S, s, and U antigens. Red blood cells lacking Rh/RhAG proteins have structural abnormalities (such as stomatocytosis) and cell membrane defects that can result in hemolytic anemia. Only 43 individuals have been reported to have it worldwide. Only 9 active donors have been reported. Its properties make it attractive in numerous medical applications, but scarcity makes it expensive to transport and acquire.