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What is C Antigen?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

C antigen is an antigen in the Rhesus blood grouping system. This blood group system is associated with over 40 antigens which may or may not be present in a someone's blood, determining her or his place in this system. The most famous Rhesus antigen is the D antigen, sometimes called the Rhesus factor, which can cause complications in pregnancy. Blood analysis for C antigen can be performed in a lab which has the serotyping tools necessary to identify the presence of this antigen in the blood.

As with some other antigens associated with blood types, the C antigen can create a blood incompatibility which may cause problems during pregnancy or with blood transfusions. If someone does not have this antigen and she or he is exposed to the blood of someone who does, C antibodies will develop. With the next exposure, a coagulation reaction will occur in the blood. For this reason, it is important to avoid transfusing C positive blood into people who do not have the antigen.

Blood analysis for C antigen may be performed in a lab.
Blood analysis for C antigen may be performed in a lab.

Although the D antigen is responsible for over 90% of the Rhesus-associated antigen incompatibility that can occur during pregnancy, it is possible for a maternal-fetal antigen incompatibility to be caused by C antigen. In this case, the fetus has the antigen and the mother does not. The mother is exposed to fetal blood, and develops C antibodies. Usually she is able to carry the pregnancy to term, but if she gets pregnant again with a C positive baby, her immune system will attack the fetus, causing hemolytic disease in the fetus or newborn.

The Rhesus blood grouping system is associated with over 40 antigens which may be present in a person's blood.
The Rhesus blood grouping system is associated with over 40 antigens which may be present in a person's blood.

If a doctor suspects that antigen incompatibility may be an issue, she or he may request a serotype of the mother to check for the presence of the C antigen. Antigen incompatibility can result in increased risks during the pregnancy. While steps cannot be taken to prevent the incompatibility, being aware of the issue can help a doctor act quickly if complications emerge during the course of the pregnancy. Serotyping can reveal the presence of big C or little c antigen, which are two different antigens found in the Rhesus blood group system.

Antigen incompatibility may increase the risk of complications during pregnancy.
Antigen incompatibility may increase the risk of complications during pregnancy.

Because D antigen incompatibility is well understood, when mothers have this incompatibility, they can be treated with a drug called RhoGam® after birth. This drug destroys the D antibodies so that a mother will not experience an adverse reaction in a future pregnancy. Because C antigen incompatibility is much more rare, no treatment is available as of 2009.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a InfoBloom researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a InfoBloom researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon131709

Thank you for the very well written, clear and concise article. I am pregnant, RH- and antibody C positive and trying to explain this to friends and family was getting confusing. Your article is the *only* article I've found that explains everything in layman's terms and is simple for them to understand.

I am also warm antibody positive - do you know if I could be positive of that due to the antibody C? (My spouse is RH+ and has antigen C - hence my exposure during pregnancy.)

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    • Blood analysis for C antigen may be performed in a lab.
      By: JackF
      Blood analysis for C antigen may be performed in a lab.
    • The Rhesus blood grouping system is associated with over 40 antigens which may be present in a person's blood.
      By: yanlev
      The Rhesus blood grouping system is associated with over 40 antigens which may be present in a person's blood.
    • Antigen incompatibility may increase the risk of complications during pregnancy.
      By: Tatyana Gladskih
      Antigen incompatibility may increase the risk of complications during pregnancy.
    • The C antigen, which is carried on red blood cells, can create a blood incompatibility that can cause problems for blood transfusions.
      By: designua
      The C antigen, which is carried on red blood cells, can create a blood incompatibility that can cause problems for blood transfusions.
    • C antigen incompatibility between mother and baby can cause hemolytic disease in the newborn.
      By: jamdesign
      C antigen incompatibility between mother and baby can cause hemolytic disease in the newborn.
    • The C antigen can create blood incompatibility, which can be problematic during blood transfusions.
      By: alma_sacra
      The C antigen can create blood incompatibility, which can be problematic during blood transfusions.