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:
- Neonatal Hemolytic Disease Blood Routine: This is the most basic test, used to assess the newborn’s blood condition.
- 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.
- 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.