RhD detection in transfusion medicine

Abstract

Transfusion medicine represents one of the emerging medicine branches of the last century. With the discovery of isoagglutinin, the main proof has been made that blood group inheritance is encoded in genes which established the theory of four blood groups. Moreover, the presence of certain antibodies, later known as Rh factors, directly reflects the ability to accept or reject of blood group. Several methods of detection of Rh factor have been used in transfusion medicine which helps in diagnostic procedures. This is of great importance, especially during pregnancies or during blood donation processes. Molecular approaches enable the identification and analysis of blood that is negative for specific antigens against which a patient may have generated antibodies, the detection and analysis of antibodies, and the identification of donors who are negative for common antigens.