Rh-Hr Nomenclature (Wiener)
Definition
An earlier notation system using alphanumeric agglutinogen codes (R0, R1, R2, Rz, r, r', r'', ry) for Rh haplotypes. Wiener's R1 corresponds to Fisher-Race CDe; Wiener's r corresponds to cde. Both systems appear in older forensic serology literature.
- Originator
- Alexander Wiener
- Notation examples
- R0, R1, R2, Rz, r, r', r''
- R1 equivalent
- Fisher-Race CDe
- r equivalent
- Fisher-Race cde
Common questions
Why do two competing Rh naming systems exist?+
Wiener and Fisher-Race developed independent theories of the underlying gene structure for Rh at roughly the same time, and rather than one being formally abandoned, both notations persisted in parallel use across different laboratories and literature.
Which system is more common in current forensic serology reports?+
Fisher-Race style CDE notation is more commonly used in current practice, but an examiner reading older case files or older reference texts still needs to recognise Wiener's alphanumeric codes to interpret historical results correctly.
Can the two notations be converted directly into each other?+
Yes, each Wiener haplotype code corresponds to a specific Fisher-Race allele combination, so results recorded in one system can be translated to the other using an established conversion table.
Related terms
- CDE Nomenclature (Fisher-Race)
- The modern standard notation for Rh antigens, naming three antithetical pairs: C/c, D (no d), and E/e. Haplotypes such as CDe (R1),...
- D Antigen
- The most immunogenic Rh antigen, encoded by the RHD gene. Its presence defines Rh-positive; its absence defines Rh-negative. No naturally occurring anti-D...
- Indirect Antiglobulin Test (IAT)
- A two-stage serological test in which IgG antibody is incubated with red cells, unbound antibody is washed away, and anti-human globulin (Coombs...
- RHD Genotyping
- PCR-based molecular typing of the RHD gene to determine D antigen status from DNA, including from dried biological evidence where serological red...
- Weak D (Formerly Du)
- A reduced-expression variant of the D antigen that does not agglutinate red cells with standard IgM anti-D reagent in the direct test...