Umbilical Cord Blood Use for Admission Blood Tests of VLBW Preterm Neonates: A Randomized Control Trial

OBJECTIVE: Umbilical cord blood (UCB) for admission laboratories is an approach to decrease anemia risk in very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates. We hypothesized that UCB use results in higher hemoglobin concentration HgB around 24 hours of life. STUDY DESIGN: = 41) in three U.S. military NICUs (clinicaltrials.gov#NCT02103296). RESULTS: = 0.04). CONCLUSION: In the first 24 hours of life that is a period of higher risk for hemodynamic instability, UCB utilization for admission bloodwork in VLBW infants results in higher HgB. KEY POINTS: · Umbilical cord blood laboratory work in preterm infants is feasible.. · Cord blood use for admission laboratories results in increased hemoglobin in the first 24 hours of life.. · Cord blood use for admission laboratories delays time to first transfusion in preterm infants..