BLOOD TEST · SMART CARE POLYCLINIC, DEIRA
Coombs Test explained
An antibody screen in pregnancy that checks whether your blood could react with your baby's.
What the Coombs Test measures
The indirect Coombs test looks for antibodies in your blood that could attack red cells, including your baby's. It is done with your blood group, and is especially important if you are Rh negative.
What the result tells you
If it's negative
No harmful antibodies were found, the usual result.
If antibodies are found
They are identified and measured, and the pregnancy is monitored more closely.
If you are Rh negative
You are offered anti-D injections to stop antibodies forming.
How to prepare
- Fasting
- Not required
- Best time
- Any time of day
What can move the result
A result outside the usual range does not on its own mean something is wrong. These are the everyday explanations a doctor considers first.
Packages that include it
Frequently asked questions
The indirect Coombs test looks for antibodies in your blood that could attack red cells, including your baby's. It is done with your blood group, and is especially important if you are Rh negative. If it's negative: No harmful antibodies were found, the usual result.
Fasting: Not required. Best time: Any time of day.
Commonly: a previous pregnancy or blood transfusion; a recent anti-D injection. A single result is not a diagnosis. Values are read against the laboratory's own reference range and alongside your history, your symptoms and the rest of the panel — which is why every package includes a doctor to go through them with you.
At Smart Care Polyclinic, 29 Doha Centre, Al Maktoum Rd, Deira, Dubai. It is included in the All Trimester Package, the 1st Trimester Pregnancy Package, the Obstetrics Panel, or it can be ordered on its own. Walk in during opening hours or call +971 (0)4 379 3562.
Sources
Written from current guidance and reviewed 18 October 2026.
- Rhesus diseaseNHS
- Coombs testMedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine