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Tareq Abadl: Coombs Test Explained in a Simple and Clear Way
Tareq Abadl/LinkedIn
Apr 10, 2026, 15:52

Tareq Abadl: Coombs Test Explained in a Simple and Clear Way

Tareq Abadl, Medical Laboratory Specialist and Director of the Blood Bank at Dr. Abdelkader Al-Mutawakkil Hospital, shared a post on LinkedIn:

”Coombs Test
…the blood cell detective!

In our lab, we have a famous detective called the Coombs Test. His main job is to uncover the presence of antibodies attacking red blood cells.

It’s not a simple case, because he has two investigation methods:

Direct Coombs Test
(the detective at the crime scene):

Steps:

  • Take a blood sample from the patient.
  • Wash the red blood cells to remove plasma or free antibodies.
  • Add a reagent called Anti-human globulin.
  • If antibodies or complement are stuck on the surface of red blood cells then Agglutination occurs (clumping of RBCs).

Used in cases like:

  • Autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
  • Transfusion reactions.
  • Hemolytic disease of the newborn.

A positive result means: ‘the crime has already happened’, meaning antibodies are bound to RBCs and destroying them.

Indirect Coombs Test
(the detective among the suspects):

Steps:

  • Take the patient’s serum (plasma).
  • Add reagent red blood cells with known composition.
  • If antibodies are present in the serum, they bind to the added RBCs.
  • Add Anti-human globulin reagent.
  • If agglutination occurs, it means free antibodies are present in the serum.

Commonly used in:

  • Cross-matching before blood transfusion to ensure compatibility.
  • Antenatal screening for mothers to detect antibodies that may affect the fetus.

A positive result means: ‘there are hidden criminal intentions’ meaning antibodies in the serum that could cause future problems.

Key difference:

  • Direct test focuses on crimes that already happened.
  • Indirect test focuses on potential crimes in the future.

Both rely on the same principle:
Using Anti-human globulin reagent to detect antibodies, with results shown as agglutination.”

Tareq Abadl: Coombs Test Explained in a Simple and Clear Way

Other posts featuring Tareq Abadl on Hemostasis Today.

Coombs Test Direct Coombs Test Health Hematology Hemostasis Hemostasis News Hemostasis Today Indirect Coombs Test Medicine Tareq Abadl thrombosis
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