Coombs Test (Direct Antiglobulin Test) Test Price in Old Town Bhubaneswar

Test Description

The Direct Antiglobulin Test (DAT), commonly known as the Direct Coombs Test, detects antibodies or complement proteins that are bound to the surface of red blood cells in vivo. The test uses anti-human globulin (AHG) reagent — the Coombs reagent — which contains antibodies against human IgG and complement (C3d). When added to washed patient red blood cells, AHG crosslinks cells coated with antibodies or complement, causing visible agglutination (positive result). The DAT is essential for diagnosing autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN), drug-induced immune hemolysis, and hemolytic transfusion reactions. Polyspecific AHG is used as a screening reagent, followed by monospecific IgG and C3d reagents to characterize the type of sensitization. Warm AIHA (IgG-mediated) is managed with corticosteroids, rituximab, or splenectomy. Cold AIHA (complement/IgM-mediated) may respond to rituximab and cold avoidance. A positive DAT requires clinical correlation as 1 in 10,000 blood donors may have a weakly positive DAT without clinical hemolysis.