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Hematology

Irregular Antibody Screening

An irregular antibody screening test detects unexpected antibodies in your blood that may react against foreign red blood cells. These antibodies can develop after transfusions, pregnancies, or immune stimulation and are important to identify for transfusion and pregnancy safety.

Doctor's Assessment Included

Reference Ranges

Expected result Negative

Reference ranges may vary between laboratories. When you order a test, a BIG-registered doctor assesses your personal results in context. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.

Check your own value

What It Measures

This test screens your blood serum for the presence of irregular (non-ABO) antibodies directed against red blood cell antigens. It uses a panel of reagent red blood cells with known antigen profiles to detect clinically significant antibodies.

Why It Matters

Irregular antibodies can cause transfusion reactions if incompatible blood is administered. During pregnancy, certain antibodies may cross the placenta and affect the unborn baby's red blood cells. Early detection enables healthcare providers to select compatible blood products and monitor pregnancies appropriately.

When to Test

Screening is routinely performed before blood transfusions, during pregnancy, and before surgery. It may also be repeated periodically for patients who receive regular transfusions. Consult a healthcare professional for interpretation of results.

Lifestyle Tips

If irregular antibodies are detected, always inform healthcare providers before any medical procedure involving blood products. Carry identification indicating your antibody status. Keep your antibody card updated and accessible for emergency situations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes irregular antibodies to develop?
Irregular antibodies can develop after exposure to foreign red blood cell antigens, which may occur during blood transfusions, pregnancy, or organ transplantation. The immune system recognises these antigens as foreign and produces antibodies against them.
Do irregular antibodies go away over time?
Some irregular antibodies may decrease in concentration over time and become undetectable, but the immune memory can persist. This means antibodies may rapidly reappear upon re-exposure to the same antigen. It is important to maintain records of any detected antibodies.

Tests with related values

These panels measure values from the same category as this marker.

Irregular Antibody Screening

€33,-