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Research Paper | Health and Medical Sciences | Volume 15 Issue 7, July 2026 | Pages: 748 - 752 | India
Prevalence and Causes of Direct Antiglobulin Test Positivity in Hospitalized Paediatric Patients: Experience from a Tertiary Care Centre in North India
Abstract: Background: The direct antiglobulin test (DAT) is an essential immunohematological investigation used to detect in vivo sensitization of red blood cells by immunoglobulin G (IgG), complement components, or both. Although DAT is widely employed in the evaluation of immune-mediated hemolysis, positive results may also occur in several non-hemolytic clinical conditions, particularly in hospitalized paediatric patients. Limited data are available regarding the prevalence and causes of DAT positivity in the Indian paediatric population. Objective: To determine the prevalence of direct antiglobulin test positivity among hospitalized paediatric patients and to evaluate its association with various clinical etiologies. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based prospective cross-sectional study was conducted over one year (July 2024 to June 2025) at a tertiary care centre in North India. A total of 400 hospitalized paediatric patients meeting the inclusion criteria were enrolled. All samples were screened using a polyspecific DAT by the column agglutination technique. Samples with positive polyspecific DAT results were further evaluated using monospecific anti-IgG and anti-C3d reagents to characterize the type of red cell sensitization. Results: Of the 400 patients studied, 23 (5.75%) demonstrated DAT positivity. Among these, isolated C3d positivity was observed in 9 (39.1%) patients, isolated IgG positivity in 8 (34.8%), and combined IgG with C3d positivity in 6 (26.1%). DAT positivity was most frequently associated with infectious conditions (43.5%), followed by anaemia (21.7%), sepsis (17.4%), and miscellaneous disorders (17.4%). Pneumonia was the most common infection associated with DAT positivity. Conclusion: The prevalence of DAT positivity among hospitalized paediatric patients was 5.75%. Complement-mediated red cell sensitization was the predominant serological pattern, with infections- particularly pneumonia- representing the most frequent associated clinical condition. Monospecific DAT testing provides valuable diagnostic information by identifying the nature of red cell sensitization and facilitates accurate interpretation of positive DAT results in paediatric patients.
Keywords: Direct antiglobulin test, DAT, paediatric patients, immunohematology, red blood cell sensitization, IgG, C3d, column agglutination technique
How to Cite?: Gurjar Tejveer, Mangal Vishal, "Prevalence and Causes of Direct Antiglobulin Test Positivity in Hospitalized Paediatric Patients: Experience from a Tertiary Care Centre in North India", Volume 15 Issue 7, July 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 748-752, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26709173420, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26709173420