RBC. antibody screen This is a blood test for RBC antibodies in your blood. These antibodies break down red blood cells isolated from your own (foreign) blood. although the presence of RBC antibodies is not detrimental to your well-being:
- If you have received a blood transfusion, they can cause nonsense diseases.
- If you are pregnant, they can damage your baby.
Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system that attack bacteria and other substances from outside the body, covering the strange red blood cells. Blood transfusions and pregnancy are two ways to get in touch with your strange red blood cells.
These labels are called antigens, and the immune system reacts to foreign red blood cells when it distinguishes them from your own cellular antigens. Unknown antigens cause the immune system to create antibodies against the RBCs, destroying the strange RBCs.
An RBC antibody screen These antibodies can be found before they cause health problems.
Other names: antibody screen Indirect antiglobulin test, indirect anti-human acid test, IAT, indirect Coombs, RBC AB, RBC antibody identification
What is it used for?
An RBC antibody screen It is used to test blood for RBC antibodies before transfusion or during pregnancy.
- Prior to transfusion, this test helps indicate if the donor blood is compatible with your blood. If your blood contains antibodies to the donor’s blood, your immune system will attack the red blood cells in the transfusion. This pattern of immune response can make you very ill. Anonza. RBC antibody screen Helps to bind blood to blood that will not give a harmful reaction.
- During pregnancy, tests can show whether there are RBC antibodies that have a chance to attack the fetal red blood cells, causing a rather severe picture of anemia in the baby. Antibodies that are more likely to cause this malformation during pregnancy include antibodies against RH and Kell antibodies. A more common primary cause of anemia in babies is called RH incompatibility; RH is the RH factor in red blood cells that you inherit from your own guardian. If your blood cells do not have the RH antigen, but your fetus does, then you have RH incompatibility. If your blood is mixed with your baby’s blood, you will make RBC antibodies that will attack your baby’s blood. At the beginning of your pregnancy, or before you become pregnant, have a prenatal blood test to see if you have the RH factor.
- If you do not have the Rh antigen, you are Rh negative. If your baby’s biofounder is Rh positive (has the Rhesus antigen) or the blood type is unknown, you and your baby will be treated as incompatible. This is because the majority of people are Rhesus positive. As a general rule, Rhesus incompatibility does not cause problems in a single pregnancy. This is because the body needs time to produce antibodies and the effects of the baby’s blood, if any, occur primarily in the family. However, Rh antibodies can cause problems in future pregnancies or when blood transfusions are necessary. An. RBC antibody screen Check to see if any antibodies have developed that could affect current or future pregnancies. If not, you will probably receive treatment to prevent your body from producing Rh antibodies.
- If you have Rh antigens, you are Rh positive. Your immune system does not produce Rhesus antibodies, so you are not Rhesus incompatible. However, you can still RBC antibody screen Look for other antibodies against lesser-known red blood cells that may affect your baby.
An RBC antibody screen You can also look for antibodies against Kell antigens, a group of red blood cell antigens that are most likely to elicit a strong immune response in the absence of Kell antigens in the blood.
In most cases, antibodies to Kell antigens develop over time after exposure to various blood transfusions. However, it is possible to produce antibodies to red blood cell Kell during pregnancy, even if your baby has Kell antigens and you do not. Kell antibodies can cause fairly slow anemia and may not be safe for the baby’s life during pregnancy.
Why do I need an RBC antibody screen ?
Your health care provider can order RBC screen if you need a blood transfusion or are pregnant. Ah! RBC antibody screen Usually done early in pregnancy as part of a simple prenatal test; if you have Rh-negative blood, you may need another transfusion later in pregnancy. RBC antibody screen Later in pregnancy.
What happens during this time. RBC antibody screen ?
The health care provider draws blood from a vein in your arm using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood is collected into a tube or vial. A small burning sensation is felt as the needle is inserted and withdrawn. This usually takes less than 5 minutes.
Do I need to do any preparation for the test?
No special preparation is required for the test. RBC screen .
Are there any risks involved in the test?
The risks of blood testing are very small. Some pain and bruising may occur when the needle is inserted, but most signs are immediate and easy to track.
What do the results mean?
If you received a blood transfusion:. RBC screen The results will definitely help you identify the best blood donation pattern for you.
- A positive result means that you have one or more antibodies against the red blood cells in your blood. This may attack the red blood cells in certain types of donor blood. More research is probably needed to find out what type of antibody pattern against red blood cells you have. This information will certainly help you find donor blood that does not force your immune system to attack the red blood cells in the transfusion.
- A negative result means that virtually no antibodies against red blood cells have been found.
If you are pregnant : RBC screen Indicate whether there are blood antibodies that could harm your baby.
- A negative result means that virtually no antibodies against red blood cells have been found; if you have RH-negative blood, you can get an injection (prick) to prevent your body from having antibodies against RH. This could harm the baby in this or the next pregnancy.
- A positive test result means that you have antibodies against the RBCs in your blood. You will probably need more testing to find out what type of antibodies to RH blood cells you have.
- If you have RH antibodies, you may need to test more often during pregnancy to see how the baby feels.
- If you have other antibodies against red blood cells but no antibodies against RH, your pregnancy will be carefully checked; even if you have RH-negative blood, you can get an injection to prevent your body from producing antibodies against RH. This could cause damage to the baby or babies during subsequent pregnancies.
If you have any questions about your results, talk to your health care provider.
Is there anything else I should know? RBC antibody screen ?
MS incompatibility is not common. The vast majority of people are positive, it does not cause blood incompatibility and does not pose a health risk.
Once RBC antibodies are present, they never go away. However, there is the option of having too few antibodies to appear for testing. If you have RBC antibody screen show that you have RBC antibodies, tell your doctor, especially if you need a blood transfusion or are pregnant.
Supplied by MedlinePlus from the State Medical Library.
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