Donath-Lansteiner test (for paroxysmal cold haemoglobinuria)
| Category | Blood Transfusion |
|---|---|
| Test background |
Paroxysmal cold haemoglobinuria (PCH) is an autoimmune haemolytic anaemia caused by cold-reacting immunoglobulins. It primarily affects children and tends to cause quite severe, but transient, disease. |
| Clinical Indications |
Presence of a biphasic antibody that binds to the red cells in the cold and lyses the red cell at 37 °C. |
| Reference range | Not applicable |
| Sample & container required | EDTA (lavender top) |
| Sample volume | 4 mL for paediatrics 6 mL for adults |
| Turnaround time | Dependent on clinical requirement. Contact the laboratory to discuss further. |
| Notes | This test is referred to the NHS Blood and Transplant service |