COOMBS TEST, INDIRECT

Doctors use the indirect Coombs test, also called IAT, to prevent problems.

They’ll check your blood before you get a transfusion to make sure it doesn’t have antibodies that would react badly to the donated blood. It’s part of the “type and screen” process.

Pregnant women get a prenatal antibody screening with an indirect Coombs test. It checks the mother’s blood to see if there are antibodies that could pass to and harm their unborn baby.