What does a negative Coombs test mean?

What does a negative Coombs test mean?

A negative test result means that your blood does not have antibodies attached to your red blood cells. Indirect Coombs test. A negative test result means that your blood is compatible with the blood you are to receive by transfusion.

What causes Coombs in newborns?

It is caused by the build up in the skin of a pigment called bilirubin. Bilirubin is released when red blood cells are broken down. A mild degree of jaundice is very common in newborn babies and is not usually a problem. However babies who are Coombs positive may have higher levels of jaundice.

What is the purpose of performing Coombs test?

The Coombs’ test is used to detect antibodies that act against the surface of your red blood cells. The presence of these antibodies indicates a condition known as hemolytic anemia, in which your blood does not contain enough red blood cells because they are destroyed prematurely.

Is Coombs positive common in babies?

It means that a blood test, called a Coombs test, or Direct Antibody Test (DAT), was done on your baby and was positive. This test is frequently performed on newborn babies. Usually the blood is taken from the baby’s cord while it is attached to the placenta following delivery.

Why would a doctor order a direct Coombs test when a baby is born with jaundice?

Direct Coomb’s Test This is the test that is done on the newborn’s blood sample, usually in the setting of a newborn with jaundice. The test is looking for “foreign” antibodies that are already adhered to the infant’s red blood cells (rbcs), a potential cause of hemolysis.

What percent of babies are Coombs positive?

Of the 5719 infants born during the time frame of the study, 240 had direct Coombs-positive results: 134 (55.8%) were shown to be A+ and 106 (44.2%), type B+; 460 infants had direct Coombs-negative results: 267 (58.0%) were type A+ and 193 (42.0%) type B+.

What is a positive Coombs test?

An abnormal (positive) direct Coombs test means you have antibodies that act against your red blood cells. This may be due to: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia or similar disorder. Blood disease in newborns called erythroblastosis fetalis (also called hemolytic disease of the newborn)