Question

When a newborn is just born, doctors recommend a hemolytic disease screening. What is the purpose of the neonatal hemolytic disease screening?

Answer

The neonatal hemolytic disease screening is to confirm whether the newborn has hemolytic disease, a condition that can lead to neonatal jaundice and other health issues. The basic screening program includes:

  1. Neonatal Hemolytic Disease Blood Routine: This is the most basic test, used to assess the newborn’s blood condition.
  2. Neonatal Hemolytic Disease Serum Bilirubin: One of the common symptoms of hemolytic disease is elevated unconjugated bilirubin, so checking the level of serum bilirubin helps in diagnosis.
  3. Neonatal Hemolytic Disease Antihuman Globulin Test (Coombs Test): This test is used to detect specific blood type antibodies, which helps determine the cause of hemolytic disease. These tests help doctors diagnose and treat neonatal hemolytic diseases early.