Yashoda Hospitals > Diagnostics > Coombs Test

What is the Coombs Test?

Coombs tests are antiglobulin tests or RBC antibody tests that look for antibodies targeting the red blood cells in your blood. Antibodies are part of the immune system. They combat infections but sometimes mistakenly attack your healthy cells.

There are some antibodies associated with your blood type. Each individual’s red blood cells are unique. If your immune system discovers antibodies that do not match yours, it will produce them.

There are two kinds of Coombs tests. The direct test checks for antibodies in RBCs. The indirect test checks for antibodies in your blood’s serum.

 

What is the Coombs Test used for?

The uses of the Coombs test include looking for antibodies on the red blood cell surfaces. These antibodies indicate hemolytic anemia, a condition in which your blood lacks red blood cells due to their early destruction. A normal red blood cell has a lifespan of around 120 days; however, it destroys the red blood cells much before the 120-day mark in patients with hemolytic anemia. 

Understanding the test results of the Coombs Test

The Coombs test identifies the red blood cell agglutination. It indicates that it has detected no antibodies or that the number of antibodies detected was likely insignificant. If there is no clump found, the test is negative.

Positive and negative results on the DAT and IAT tests have different meanings. The agglutination of the red blood cells gives positive results during the test.

 

    Enquire Now

    • Yes Same as WhatsApp number

    • By clicking on Send, you accept to receive communication from Yashoda Hospitals on email, SMS, call and Whatsapp.

    Book Doctor Appointment

    Book Appointment
    Book Online Doctor Appointment

    Online Video Consultation
    Search Specialty Doctor

    Find a Doctor
    Health Packages

    Health Packages

    Need Any Medical Help?

    Talk to Our Health Care Experts!

    doctor avatar

    Need Any Medical Help?

    Have any Questions?

    Why Choose Yashoda Hospitals

    Yashoda Hospitals is committed to providing world-class treatment for patients from across the globe. With the unique combination of state-of-the-art technology, intuitive care, and clinical excellence, we are the healthcare destination for thousands of international patients in India.

    blank
    Comprehensive Care

    On the journey to good health, we understand that it is important for you to feel at home. We plan out all aspects of your trip.

    blank
    Expert Doctors

    Experienced specialists perform non-invasive and minimally invasive surgeries to provide the best treatment for international patients.

    blank
    Cutting-Edge Technology

    Our hospitals are equipped with advanced technology to perform a wide range of procedures and treatments.

    blank
    Clinical Excellence

    We deliver excellence by delivering quick and efficient healthcare and through pioneering research that helps all our future.patients.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    The Coombs test determines if the blood contains certain kinds of antibodies. If the immune system detects something incorrectly, it may sometimes produce antibodies against cells. Coombs test is used to see if you have antibodies in your blood that are causing your immune system to attack and kill your red blood cells. If this happens, you may develop hemolytic anemia.

    Perform the direct Coombs test on a red blood cell sample. It identifies antibodies present in the circulation that may attach to specific red blood cells, posing complications in blood mixing. It can detect antibodies already bound to red blood cells.

     

    Coombs tests are of two types – direct and indirect. Coombs test, or direct antiglobulin test, is the most often used method for diagnosing hemolytic anemia. The indirect Coombs test is exclusively used in pregnant women's prenatal and blood transfusion testing. Blood is collected from an arm vein and washed to collect red blood cells for the direct Coombs test.

    At your first prenatal appointment, your blood examination is conducted to see whether you were ever sensitized to Rh-positive blood. During early pregnancy, all women have an indirect Coombs test. If you are Rh-negative and your test results indicate that you are not sensitized, perform a second test between 24 and 28 weeks.

    When a Coombs test result is positive, two major complications in babies are anemia and jaundice. The confusing thing is that only a tiny percentage of Coombs positive newborns will acquire these difficulties, whereas some Coombs negative babies may get them. Thus, a positive test indicates that monitoring for anemia and jaundice is more crucial than determining which babies need treatment.

    • Direct Coombs test

    The direct Coombs test looks for antibodies in RBCs. Your body may produce antibodies in response to the disease, or it may have been acquired via a blood transfusion.

    • Indirect Coombs test

    The indirect Coombs test detects antibodies in the liquid component of your blood. Antibodies can attack red blood cells, but they do not attach to them.

    Before visiting the pathology lab, your doctor will instruct you to drink water. Certain drugs may need to be stopped before the test, but only if your doctor directs you to do so.

    You may experience minor discomfort or a pinching sensation during the test when drawing blood. However, this is normal for a brief period and is relatively little.

    Following the removal of the needle, you may have a throbbing sensation in the injected area. You must apply pressure to the site where the needle was injected.

     

    If your doctor verifies that you have a low RBC count, they may prescribe the Coombs test to determine the kind of anemia you have. The following are a few rare side effects:

    • Dizziness or fainting
    • Hematoma, a blood-filled pocket under the skin
    • Infection is avoided by thoroughly cleansing the skin before inserting the needle
    • Uncontrollable bleeding

    Book an appointment with the medical experts at Yashoda Hospitals and get a free second opinion today!