what is another name for the rh antigen
Rh blood group system The term "Rh" was originally an abbreviation of "Rhesus factor." It was discovered in 1937 by Karl Landsteiner and Alexander S. Wiener who, at the time, believed it to be a similar antigen found in rhesus monkey red blood cells. It was subsequently learned the human factor is not identical to the rhesus monkey factor; but by then, "Rhesus Group" and like terms were already in widespread, worldwide use. Thus, notwithstanding it is a misnomer, the term survives (e.g. rhesus blood group system, and the obsolete terms rhesus factor, rhesus positive, and rhesus negative - all three which actually refer specifically and only to the Rh D factor; and, thus, are misleading when unmodified). Contemporary practice is to use "Rh" as a term of art instead of "Rhesus"; viz. "Rh Group," "Rh factors," "Rh D," etc.