The Coombs Test (also Coombs' Test) is a blood test used to determine whether there are red blood cell antibodies.
Two types of the test exist:
- Indirect Coombs test - also known as the indirect antiglobulin test (IAT). This is used in the matching of blood products.
- Direct Coombs test - also known as the direct antiglobulin test (DAT).
The DAT is used to determine if the patient has immune mediated hemolysis (antibody-mediated destruction of red blood cells), as occurs in Rh disease.
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