What test results confirm hemolysis?

To confirm hemolysis, one key laboratory finding is low haptoglobin levels. Haptoglobin is a plasma protein that binds free hemoglobin released during red blood cell (RBC) breakdown. During the process of hemolysis, free hemoglobin is released into the circulation, leading to its binding by haptoglobin, which subsequently decreases its availability in the serum. Therefore, a low haptoglobin level is indicative of hemolysis as it suggests that there has been an increased destruction of red blood cells and a corresponding rise in free hemoglobin.

While high indirect bilirubin levels can also support the diagnosis of hemolysis due to increased breakdown of hemoglobin into bilirubin as part of the metabolic processing, it is not as specific or direct as low haptoglobin levels. High indirect bilirubin suggests an excess of unconjugated bilirubin, which can result from hemolysis but is not exclusively associated with it; other conditions may also lead to increased indirect bilirubin.

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels typically rise with hemolysis; therefore, low LDH would be inconsistent with hemolytic processes. Similarly, a normal reticulocyte count would suggest that the bone marrow is not responding adequately to