Cold agglutinins bind to which type of cell?

Cold agglutinins are antibodies that typically target red blood cells, leading to their clumping or agglutination at lower temperatures. This phenomenon is significant in certain clinical conditions, particularly infections such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae or in some autoimmune hemolytic anemias. When cold agglutinins bind to red blood cells, it can cause problems like hemolysis and subsequently impact blood tests, as it can lead to inaccurate results for tests that rely on the uniformity of red blood cell suspension.

In the context of the options provided, red blood cells are the correct answer, highlighting the specific interaction between cold agglutinins and these cells. The other types of cells listed, such as white blood cells, platelets, and stem cells, do not experience this particular binding phenomenon associated with cold agglutinins. Understanding this relationship is crucial for interpreting laboratory results in cases where cold agglutinins are present.