Clinical applications of direct antiglobulin test

Abstract

The direct antiglobulin test (DAT) is used to detect immunoglobulin and/or complement on the surface of red blood cells (RBCs). The DAT is valuable in the investigation of autoimmune hemolytic anemia, drug-induced immune hemolysis, hemolytic disease of newborn, hemolytic transfusion reactions, and passenger lymphocyte syndrome. There are several limitations of DAT, such as sensitivity, false positive and false negative. The patient's clinical history, diagnoses, and other laboratory test results should also take into consideration for DAT interpretation.