Service Providers for Coombs Test Direct
The Direct Coombs Test (DCT) is a diagnostic test used to detect antibodies or complement proteins that are already bound to the surface of red blood cells (RBCs). It is primarily used to diagnose conditions like autoimmune hemolytic anemia, where the immune system mistakenly attacks its own RBCs, or hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN), which occurs when maternal antibodies target fetal RBCs. The test is performed by adding Coombs reagent (an anti-human antibody) to a sample of the patient's RBCs. If agglutination (clumping) occurs, it indicates that antibodies or complement are attached to the RBCs. This helps identify immune-related causes of hemolysis and guides appropriate treatment.