blood disorders
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia
Diagnosis of Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia
Blood tests Once blood tests show a person has anemia, doctors look for the cause. Doctors suspect increased destruction of red blood cells when a blood test shows an increase in the number of red blood cells that are immature (reticulocytes) or there is evidence of blood destruction on a Blood smear (a test in which a drop of blood is spread on a slide and examined under a microscope). Alternatively, a blood test may show an increased amount of a substance called bilirubin produced by the destruction of red blood cells and a decreased amount of a protein called haptoglobin, which binds the hemoglobin released from the destroyed red cells. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia as the cause is confirmed when blood tests detect increased amounts of certain antibodies, either attached to red blood cells (direct antiglobulin or direct Coombs test) or in the liquid portion of the blood (indirect antiglobulin or indirect Coombs test). Other tests sometimes help determine the cause of the autoimmune reaction that is destroying red blood cells. 