Schematic showing the direct and indirect<unk> s The two<unk> s are based on anti-human antibodies binding to human antibodies, commonly IgG or IgM. These anti-human antibodies are produced by plasma cells of non-human animals after immunizing them with human plasma. Additionally, these anti-human antibodies will also bind to human antibodies that may be fixed onto antigens on the surface of red blood cells (RBCs). In the appropriate test tube conditions, this can lead to agglutination of RBCs and allowing for visualisation of the resulting clumps of RBCs. If clumping is seen, the<unk>  is positive; if not, the<unk>  is negative. Common clinical uses of the<unk>  include the preparation of blood for transfusion in cross-matching, atypical antibodies in the blood plasma of pregnant women as part of antenatal care, and detection of antibodies for the diagnosis of immune-mediated haemolytic anemias.<unk> s are performed using RBCs or serum (direct or indirect, respectively) from venous whole blood samples which are taken from patients by venipuncture. The venous blood is taken to a laboratory (or blood bank), where trained scientific technical staff do the<unk> s. The clinical significance of the result is assessed by the physician who requested the<unk> , perhaps with assistance from a laboratory-based hematologist.
Coombs test
Euglobulin lysis time
Reticulin stain
DPD scan
Iron tests
Transferrin saturation
Lupus band test
Hemoglobin electrophoresis