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R

Rapid FISH

See Fluorescent in-situ hybridisation

Rhesus incompatibility or rhesus disease

Rh disease refers to the haemolytic process in the fetus which results from blood group incompatibility between the mother and the fetus. It leads to antibodies from the mother crossing the placenta and attacking the red blood cells of the fetus. It can result in anaemia and jaundice in the newborn. Anti-D is now used in Rhesus negative mothers to try to avoid the development of antibodies.

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