Coombs' Test, Direct
What do the test results mean?
Normally, red blood cells do not clump together.
If clumping does occur, the individual's red blood cells have antibodies against those red cells on their surfaces. This may indicate:
autoimmune hemolytic anemia, which is an immune attack against the body's own red blood cells
drug-induced hemolytic anemia, or red blood cell destruction related to various medications
erythroblastosis fetalis, an anemia in the fetus which occurs when the mother's blood type is Rh-negative, and her immune system makes antibodies that destroy the red blood cells of the Rh-positive fetus
mononucleosis, also known as the "kissing disease," an infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus
infection with Mycoplasma bacteria, which are the germs that cause tuberculosis
systemic lupus erythematosus, which is an immune attack against the body's own tissues, resulting in arthritis and other symptoms
a reaction to a blood transfusion
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