Rh

Abbreviation with 2 meanings

Rh
Stands forRhesus (D antigen)
Meanings2
CategoriesMedical, Science & Engineering

Rh has two meanings. It stands for Rhesus (D antigen) (laboratory test) or Rhodium (chemical element).

Meanings of Rh at a glance

#Rh stands forContext
1Rhesus (D antigen)Medical › Laboratory Test
2RhodiumScience & Engineering › Chemical Element

1. Rhesus (D antigen)

Medical · Laboratory Test Abbreviations

Blood bank shorthand for the RhD antigen on red cells; people who carry it are Rh positive and those who lack it are Rh negative. Rh status determines transfusion compatibility and, in pregnancy, whether Rh immune globulin is needed to prevent hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn.

Example: Mother Rh negative, antibody screen negative: RhIG given at 28 weeks.

Named after the rhesus macaques used in experiments by Landsteiner and Wiener in 1940. The Rh system contains more than 50 antigens, but D is by far the most immunogenic, so "Rh positive" means D positive. Roughly 15 percent of people of European ancestry are Rh negative, with lower proportions in African and East Asian populations.

2. Rhodium

Science & Engineering · Chemical Element Abbreviations

One of the rarest and most expensive precious metals, rhodium (atomic number 45) is mainly used in catalytic converters, where it reduces nitrogen oxides to harmless nitrogen. Its bright, tarnish-proof plating gives white-gold jewelry its mirror finish, and its price has swung more than tenfold within a few years.

Example: The white-gold band is finished with Rh plating that may need renewing every few years.

William Hyde Wollaston discovered rhodium in 1803 in crude platinum ore from South America, shortly after finding palladium. He named it from Greek rhodon (rose) for the rose-red color of its chloride salts. In 1979 Guinness World Records presented Paul McCartney with a rhodium-plated disc to mark his status as the best-selling songwriter.

More laboratory test abbreviations

  • RDW – Red cell distribution width
  • Retic – Reticulocyte count
  • RF – Rheumatoid factor
  • RFP – Renal function panel
  • RI – Reference interval
  • RPR – Rapid plasma reagin
  • SG – Specific gravity
  • SGOT – Serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase

See all 135 laboratory test abbreviations →

More chemical element abbreviations

  • Rb – Rubidium
  • Re – Rhenium
  • Rg – Roentgenium
  • Rn – Radon
  • Ru – Ruthenium
  • S – Sulfur
  • Sb – Antimony
  • Sc – Scandium

See all 118 chemical element abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.