OP: Blood compatibility (Rh)

Blood Typing

Test Overview

Human blood is classified, or typed, according to the presence or absence of certain markers (called antigens) on the surface of red blood cells. Blood typing tests are done before a person receives a blood transfusion and to check a pregnant woman's blood type. Blood typing may also be done to determine whether two people are likely to be blood relatives (for instance, to help establish paternity when it is in question).

The most important antigens are blood group antigens (ABO) and the Rh antigen. Therefore, the two most common blood typing tests are the ABO and Rh tests. Although there are other ways to type blood, these two tests are the most common. Both the ABO and Rh blood typing tests are done on a blood sample taken from a vein.

Rh test

Rh blood typing determines the presence (+) or absence (–) of the Rh antigen (also called the Rh factor). If your red blood cells:
• Contain the Rh antigen, your blood is Rh-positive.
• Do not contain the Rh antigen, your blood is Rh-negative.
• Contain the A and Rh antigens, your blood type is A-positive (A+). If your blood contains the B antigen but not the Rh antigen, your blood type is B-negative (B–).

Rh blood typing is especially important for pregnant women. A potential problem arises when a woman who has Rh-negative blood becomes pregnant with a fetus that has Rh-positive blood. This is called Rh incompatibility. If the blood of an Rh-positive fetus mixes with the blood of an Rh-negative woman during pregnancy or delivery, the mother's immune system produces antibodies. This antibody response is called Rh sensitization and, depending on when it occurs, can destroy the fetus's red blood cells.

Rh sensitization does not usually affect the health of the fetus during the pregnancy in which the sensitization occurs. However, the fetus of a subsequent pregnancy is more likely to be affected if the fetus's blood type is Rh-positive. Once sensitization has occurred, the fetus can develop mild to severe problems (called Rh disease, hemolytic disease of the newborn, or erythroblastosis fetalis). If untreated, complications from sensitization can, in rare cases, lead to the death of an Rh-positive fetus.

Rh testing is done in early pregnancy to detect a woman's blood type. If she is Rh-negative, she can receive a vaccine called Rh immune globulin (such as RhoGAM) that almost always prevents sensitization from occurring. Problems arising from Rh sensitization have become very rare since the Rh immune globulin vaccine was developed.

moderatorII

Posted: 27 Sep 00:52

UNICORN,
The mod gave you a good clear response. If you understand all the implications of hat response, you would not have needed to ask in the first place. Professionals are not comfortable with questions such as this and tiki's earlier one about diabetes and pregnancy on boards such as this.

If asked in my office, the reply will be closely matched to the apparent comprehension of the patients or clients. Here, we do not have the ability to measure the response. If you are planning to marry or otherwise become parents, by all means see a physician, get typed and discuss the issue with her. Or him. I forget some men are capable of being doctors.

If you and Tiki are getting close to a pregnancy decision, get the best information available from someone who can go into whatever detail you want. If you want hypothetical answers to hypothetical questions, go to webmd or some such and dig out the answers.

Brandye

Posted: 27 Sep 00:52

As Brandye rightly reminds us in the preceding post:

Advice obtained on any Board, web-site, tv show or book should be used for background information only, not as a basis for self-diagnosis or making life-affecting decisions!

Always check your specific situation with your own doctor. Only she/he can give you impartial, expert advice based on your own personal circumstances!

moderatorII

Posted: 27 Sep 00:52

Thanks, mod!!

Brandye

Posted: 27 Sep 00:52