Direct Antiglobulin Test
Also known as: DAT; Direct Coomb's test; Direct Anti-human Globulin test
Formal name: Direct Antiglobulin Test
At a Glance
Why Get Tested?
To help diagnose hemolytic anemia caused by autoimmune disease or induced by drugs; to investigate a transfusion reaction; to diagnose hemolytic disease of the newborn
When to Get Tested?
When you have symptoms suggesting hemolytic anemia, such as unusual tiredness, unexpected difficulty breathing when exercising, and unusually dark urine, or when your hemoglobin and/or hematocrit are unexpectedly low, or when you have had a blood transfusion recently and are experiencing any of the above symptoms; when a newborn shows signs of hemolytic disease of the newborn
Sample Required?
A blood sample drawn from a vein in your arm
Test Preparation Needed?
None
