NAPLEX 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The correct answer is the Direct Coombs test. This test detects antibodies that are already bound to the surface of red blood cells (RBCs) in the body. In hemolytic anemia, RBC destruction can be caused by antibodies that attack the body's own RBCs, leading to their destruction. The Direct Coombs test helps in diagnosing this condition by detecting these antibodies directly attached to the surface of RBCs.

Indirect Coombs test is used to detect antibodies in the blood serum that may cause destruction of RBCs. ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) is a test used to detect the presence of an antibody or an antigen in a blood sample. PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) is a molecular biology technique used to amplify a single or a few copies of a piece of DNA to generate thousands to millions of copies for analysis.