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Rh Factor - 000720

The test for Rh factor is usually carried out in pregnant mothers. The Rh factor is a protein which is found on the surface of the red blood cells in our body. If the protein is present, then you are said to be Rh positive, if the protein is absent, you are said to be Rh negative. This test is done to detect the present or absence of this protein.

This test is carried in order to determine the presence or absence of the Rh factor which is a protein found on the surface of the red blood cells. Most individuals have this protein and are therefore Rh positive. Being Rh negative is not a problem, except during pregnancy, where if the baby is Rh positive, your body will start making antibodies against the Rh factor, and start to destroy the baby’s red cells when the blood is mixing.

It is done during pregnancy in mothers who are Rh negative, in the case the baby turns out to be Rh positive. Because your body will recognize the Rh factor as a foreign substance and produce antibodies against it. This will in turn lead to destruction of the baby’s red cells. This sensitization won’t be a problem in the first pregnancy, but will affect subsequent pregnancies, if not detected and treated.

There are no special preparations that you have to make before you undergo this test.

During this, a Medical Lab Technician will draw out a small volume of blood, using a needle and syringe which is inserted into a vein in your arm. This blood sample is then sent to the lab for analysis.

Since this test is a simple drawing of blood, you will not feel a lot of discomfort. You might experience a mild pain on inserting the needle, but you will not experience any uneasiness afterwards.

There is very little risk in undergoing an Rh factor test, because it is a simple blood drawing. Very rarely you might continue to have a mild pain or some swelling at the site where the needle was inserted, but these symptoms will resolve on their own within a couple of days.

If your test results show that you are Rh positive, then there is no problem. But if you are Rh negative and your baby is Rh positive, then further steps in the management need to be taken. You might have to report any episodes of PV bleeding during your pregnancy to your doctor immediately because there is a high risk of miscarriage. You will have to be administered Rh immunoglobulin injections, and extra care has to be taken during labor.

There are no specific factors which alter the results of this test.