'Rh' Factor"::
A part from agglutinogens A and B another agglutinogen was discovered in human RBC called Rh factor or Rhesus Factor the blood having this factor is described as Rh +ve while the blood without this factor is described as Rh -ve almost 90% world population is Rh+ve this means that the RBCs in approximately 90% of population contain Rh +ve agglutinogen factor in their blood it is advisable therefore to test for Rh factor in both the donor and the recipient
The characteristic of Rh is that if a person is Rh -ve the corresponding agglutinin for Rh antigen is never present in the blood but is developed after the first exposure to this factor
Thus if Rh +ve blood is given to Rh-ve patient for the first time anti -Rh antibodies will develop in the patient but incompatibility will not take place however if second time transfusion is done to the same patient agglutination may take place in case of Rh -ve mother bearing Rh +ve foetus the Rh antigen will travel to mother,s blood from the foetus as a result Rh +ve antibodies will develop in mother ,s blood same antibodies may travel back to foetus and antigen antibody reaction (Haemolysis) will take place in foetus resulting in abortion miscarriage or if the baby is born alive it suffers from severe anaemia (Erythroblastosis foetalis) under these conditions the mother then becomes sensitised to Rh +ve blood and agglutination may occur
Blood transfusion has also the added risk of transmitting viral infections such as jaundice AIDS virus etc
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