Isoimmunization

Question 1

What is a Coombs test?

Answer 1

Coombs test = antiglobulin test = lab procedure to detect presence of antibodies against circulating red blood cells

Question 2

What is the different between a direct and an indirect Coombs test?

Answer 2

direct testing detects the presence of antibodies attached directly to red blood cells

indirect testing detects antibodies unbound to red blood cells (aka free in the serum)

Question 3

Which Coombs test do we use routinely during pregnancy? Why?

Answer 3

Indirect testing, because Rh- sensitized mothers will produce circulating anti-Rh antibodies

Question 4

What is isoimmunization?

Answer 4

antibodies produced against a specific RBC antigen as a result of antigenic stimulation with RBC of another individual