Coombs

Coombs is a surname of English origin and also used as a place name in parts of the English-speaking world. The surname is carried by individuals across various fields, including science, politics, and the arts, reflecting its long-standing presence in English-speaking communities.

The Coombs test, named after Robin Coombs and colleagues, is a laboratory procedure used to detect antibodies or complement on red blood cells. There are direct antiglobulin (DAT) and indirect antiglobulin (IAT) forms. The test is widely employed in blood typing and transfusion medicine, as well as in the diagnosis of autoimmune hemolytic anemia and hemolytic disease of the newborn.

Coombs, British Columbia, is a village on Vancouver Island, Canada. It is known for its outdoor markets and a distinctive local feature in which goats are kept on the roofs of some shops, attracting visitors and contributing to the area’s tourist appeal.

As a surname, Coombs appears in many English-speaking countries and is associated with a diverse range of professions. In addition to its use as a family name, the term has become linked in particular to the medical test that bears the name of its developers and to the places that bear the name.