Overview Of Major Antigens of the Rh Blood Group System (Online CE Course)

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Author: Pamela Inglish, MLS(ASCP)SBB
Reviewers: Suzanne H. Butch, MA, MLS(ASCP)CMSBB, DLM; Kaitlin Faughnan, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM

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This course aims to provide the learner with an overview of the Rh blood group system, to review the unique characteristics of the antigens and antibodies of the system, to describe the naming conventions associated with the system, and to stimulate an appreciation for the complexities of the Rh system. The content provided is written with the assumption that the learner has a basic understanding of immunohematology and the ABO blood group system prior to taking this course.

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Continuing Education Credits

P.A.C.E.® Contact Hours (acceptable for AMT, ASCP, and state recertification): 1 hour(s)
Approved through 8/31/2025
Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel Credit Hours - General (Blood Banking / Immunohematology): 1 hour(s)
Approved through 8/31/2025

Objectives

  • Recall the five major antigens of the Rh blood group system.
  • Describe and compare several terminologies/nomenclature conventions commonly used when discussing the Rh blood group system.
  • List the characteristics of the Rh blood group system, including basic biochemical and molecular composition as well as chromosome location and inheritance.
  • Describe four mechanisms that may result in weakened expression of the D antigen.
  • List characteristics of antibodies commonly encountered in the Rh blood group system, phase of reactivity, ability to cross the placenta, and effect of enzyme treatment during testing.

Customer Ratings

(based on 685 customer ratings)

Course Outline

Click on the links below to preview selected pages from this course.
  • Overview of Rh
    • Practice questions
      • Rh typing is considered extremely important in pre-transfusion testing because:
      • The antibody that reacts with most D-positive red blood cells (RBCs), weakly with D-negative RBCs, and never with Rhnull RBCs is:
  • Genetics/Biochemistry
  • Nomenclature or Terminology and Inheritance in the Rh System
    • Practice questions
      • Which of the following is not a terminology used for the Rh blood group system?
      • Using Rosenfield terminology and the possible answers below, select the correct way to write the phenotype for a red cell sample that reacts as follow...
      • Match the correct Wiener shorthand with the Fisher-Race designation provided.
      • Based on the reactions below, what is the only possible Fisher-Race designation for this patient?D +C +E negc +e +
  • Rh System Antigens and Several Important Genetic Alterations
  • Characteristics of Rh System Antibodies
  • Laboratory Testing for Rh System Antigens and Antibodies
    • Practice questions
      • Reagents manufactured from a single clone of antibody-producing cells are called:
      • Which of the following situations can result in a false-negative reaction with Rh typing reagents?
  • Clinical Considerations Related to the Rh System
    • Practice questions
      • From the choices below, all are reasons that Rh antibodies are clinically significant except:
      • A common practice for preparing red blood cell products for chronically transfused patients is to match the Rh phenotype of the recipient and donor by...
  • Case Study
  • References

Additional Information

Level of Instruction: Intermediate 
Intended Audience: Medical laboratory scientists, medical laboratory technicians, laboratory supervisors, and laboratory managers. This course is also appropriate for MLS and MLT students and pathology residents.
Author Information:  Pamela Inglish, MLS(ASCP)SBB, has 30+ years of experience in medical laboratory sciences, having completed training at the Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University. Subsequently, she obtained certification as a Specialist in Blood Banking through AABB/ASCP. For the majority of her career, Ms. Inglish held positions of responsibility in hospital transfusion services, blood centers, and clinical stem cell transplant processing laboratories and has also sold clinical lab diagnostic equipment and reagents. In her most recent position at the University of Cincinnati/Hoxworth Blood Center, she was director of quality assurance and education and served as an adjunct instructor.
Reviewer Information:
Suzanne H. Butch, MA, MLS(ASCP)CMSBB, DLM, is currently working on special projects for the Department of Pathology at Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She formerly worked in Quality Assurance in the Department of Pathology and as the Administrative Manager for Healthcare, Blood Bank & Transfusion Service at the University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from the University of Michigan, a Masters Degree in Management and Supervision from Central Michigan University, and Certifications as a Specialist in Blood Bank, Quality Audit, and Diplomate in Laboratory Medicine. 
Kaitlin Faughnan, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, is currently a faculty member of SUNY Broome Community College, in which she teaches all subjects of MLS to both Medical Laboratory Technician and Histotechnician students. She is involved in curriculum development and revision, as well as researching updates to the field of laboratory science to stay on the cutting edge of the latest information and technology. She received both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science. She holds New York state licensure and previously worked as a generalist in a hospital.

How to Subscribe
MLS & MLT Comprehensive CE Package
Includes 183 CE courses, most popular
$109Add to cart
Pick Your Courses
Up to 8 CE hours
$55Add to cart
Individual course$25Add to cart
Autoagglutination.  The clumping of the erythrocytes in the center of the field is self-evident.  Autoagglutination is caused by the presence of antibody in the plasma. EMHCP405086


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