Coombs Test - Indirect near me in Kolkata

(ICT)

This test is for

Male, Female

Understanding Coombs Test - Indirect in Kolkata

What is Coombs Test - Indirect in Kolkata?

The Indirect Coombs Test (ICT) is also called as Indirect Antiglobulin Test. It is performed to identify the presence or absence of antibodies in blood directed against antigens found on red blood cells.

ICT test is done at the time of donating blood, tissue, or organ, before receiving blood during the transfusion to determine the compatibility with donated blood, and during pregnancy to determine the risk of incompatibility between mother and fetus.

The Indirect Coombs Test is performed on the principle of the antigen-antibody reaction. It is used to detect very low concentrations of antibodies present in a patient’s plasma. The ICT can also be used for compatibility testing, antibody identification, RBC phenotyping, and titration studies.

What does Coombs Test - Indirect measure?

The red blood cells have specific antigen markers present on their surface. These marker antigens are glycoproteins and help the body to recognize its own type of red blood cells (RBCs). Antibodies are naturally produced against incompatible RBC antigens when there is exposure to incompatible red blood cells. Three most common antigen markers found on RBCs are A, B, and Rh. The presence or absence of these antigen markers is used to determine the blood group of a person.

Blood transfusion between incompatible blood types causes an antigen-antibody reaction which causes the RBCs to clump together (agglutination) and this results in their destruction. Hence, blood groups of donor and recipient must match to ensure the success of the blood transfusion or organ transplant. Agglutination may also occur due to Rh incompatibility between Rh-negative pregnant woman (who is having Rh antibodies because of previous sensitization) and her Rh-positive child which may cause antibodies in the mother to cross the placenta and attack the RBCs of the fetus. In some autoimmune disorders, antibodies are produced against antigens on the body’s own RBCs. These antibodies may attack the ‘self’ RBCs and cause agglutination.

The Indirect Coombs Test is performed on the principle of the antigen-antibody reaction between incompatible blood groups. The collected blood specimen is treated with a large range of collected or synthetic human RBC antigens and observed under a microscope. If agglutination (clumping) of RBCs is seen upon treatment with a particular antigen, antibodies against that antigen are already present in the blood specimen. Antibodies against RBC antigens A and B occur naturally, while antibodies against other RBC antigens are produced upon exposure to the corresponding antigen. A similar test called the Direct Coombs Test is performed to detect the presence of antibodies (bound to RBCs) against the body’s own RBCs (autoimmune antibodies) that may be the cause of autoimmune hemolytic anemia.