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Umbilical cord blood as a replacement source for admission complete blood count in premature infants

Journal of Perinatology volume 32, pages 97–102 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

We hypothesize that a complete blood count (CBC) with manual differential from umbilical cord blood is equivalent to a CBC with manual differential obtained from the neonate on admission.

Study Design:

A CBC and manual differential was performed on 174 paired umbilical cord blood and admission blood samples from infants <35 weeks gestation. Paired t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficient were the primary statistical tools used for data analysis.

Result:

Cord and admission blood white blood cell (WBC) count, hemoglobin and platelet count all significantly (P<0.0001) correlated with paired neonatal samples (R=0.82, 0.72, 0.76). Admission blood WBC count fell within the variation of WBC count values from currently accepted neonatal admission blood sources. Cord blood hemoglobin was not clinically different than admission hemoglobin (1.0 g dl−1). Cord blood platelet counts were not different from admission blood platelet counts (5800 cells per μl, P=0.23). The immature to total granulocyte ratio was not different between samples (P=0.34).

Conclusion:

Umbilical cord blood can be used for admission CBC and differential in premature infants.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the obstetric nursing staff of The Ohio State University Medical Center, for umbilical cord blood collection, Philip Binkley, MD, MPH, Courtney Lynch, PhD, MPH and Juli Richter, MD, PharmD for reviewing the manuscript before submission. This study was funded through an intramural grant provided by Nationwide Children's Hospital.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Nationwide Children's Hospital/The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    P D Carroll & C A Nankervis

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    J Iams

  3. Center for Innovation in Pediatric Practice, Nationwide Research Institute, Columbus, OH, USA

    K Kelleher

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  1. P D Carroll
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Correspondence to P D Carroll.

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Carroll, P., Nankervis, C., Iams, J. et al. Umbilical cord blood as a replacement source for admission complete blood count in premature infants. J Perinatol 32, 97–102 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2011.60

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