Donath-Landsteiner antibody test

Indications

• paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria

Clinical significance

• test for paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria
  • hemolysis activated by exposure of blood to cold
  • hemolysis takes place only after rewarming
• the Donath-Landsteiner antibody is due to an IgG autoantibody directed against P-antigen on RBC
• complement is activated & hemolysis results

More general terms

• hemolysin cold in plasma; hemolysins & agglutinins, auto, screen

Additional terms

• paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria (PCH)