investigations of haemolytic anaemia
Last reviewed 10/2023
- full blood count:
- reticulocytosis - present if there is increased red cell production
- blood film:
- polychromasia, macrocytosis: increased red cell production
- spherocytosis: hereditary spherocytosis
- elliptocytosis: hereditary elliptocytosis
- sickle cells
- bilirubin - increased in unconjugated bilirubin if there is increased red cell destruction (also increased urinary urobilinogen and reduced haptoglobin)
- LDH: increased if red cell destruction
- urine:
- urobilinogen: high if increased RBC destruction
- haemoglobinuria, haemosiderinuria: present in intravascular causes of RBC destruction
Other tests:
- Coomb's test - tests for autoimmune cause of haemolytic anaemia
- Donath-Landsteiner antibody - if paroxysmal cold haemoglobinuria