The term “monkey blood” is colloquially used to refer to the drug known as “Rho(D) immune globulin,” or RhoGam. This medication is derived from the blood of human donors who have high levels of Rh(D) antibodies, but the name can be misleading, as it is not actually sourced from monkeys. The term likely emerged from its historical association with blood products and treatments related to Rh incompatibility in pregnancy.
Rh incompatibility occurs when an Rh-negative mother is carrying an Rh-positive baby, which can lead to serious health issues for the newborn. RhoGam is administered to prevent the mother’s immune system from producing antibodies against the Rh-positive blood cells of her child. By doing so, it helps reduce the risks of hemolytic disease of the newborn in future pregnancies.
The use of the term “monkey blood” is not commonly recognized in medical literature, and it is always best to use the official names of medications to prevent misunderstandings.