Main Campus: Chesterfield, MO 63017 | 
Cord blood testing
Cord blood refers to a sample of blood collected from the umbilical cord when a baby is born. The umbilical cord is the cord connecting the baby to the mother's womb.
Cord blood testing can be done to evaluate a newborn's health.
How the Test is Performed
Right after the birth of your baby, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut. If cord blood is to be drawn, another clamp is placed 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 centimeters) away from the first. The section between the clamps is cut and a blood sample is collected into a specimen tube.
How to Prepare for the Test
No special steps are needed to prepare for this test.
How the Test will Feel
You will not feel anything beyond the normal birthing process.
Why the Test is Performed
Cord blood testing is done to measure the following in your baby's blood:
-
Bilirubin
level
Bilirubin
The bilirubin blood test measures the level of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellowish pigment found in bile, a fluid made by the liver. Bi...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article -
Blood culture
(if an infection is suspected)
Blood culture
A blood culture is a laboratory test to check for bacteria or other germs in a blood sample.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Blood gases (including oxygen, carbon dioxide, and pH levels)
- Blood sugar level
-
Blood type
and Rh
Blood type
Blood typing is a method to tell what type of blood you have. Blood typing is done so you can safely donate your blood or receive a blood transfusio...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article -
Complete blood count (
CBC
)
CBC
A complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The tota...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Platelet count
Normal Results
Normal values mean that all items checked are within normal range.
What Abnormal Results Mean
A low pH (less than 7.04 to 7.10) means there are higher levels of acids in the baby's blood. This might occur when the baby does not get enough oxygen during labor. One reason for this could be that the umbilical cord was compressed during labor or delivery.
A blood culture that is positive for bacteria means your baby has a blood infection.
High level of blood sugar (glucose) in the cord blood may be found if the mother has diabetes. The newborn will be watched for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) after delivery.
High level of bilirubin in the newborn has many causes, which could be due to infections the baby gets.
High level of bilirubin in the newborn
Newborn jaundice occurs when a baby has a high level of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow substance that the body creates when it replac...
Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
Considerations
Most hospitals routinely collect cord blood for testing at birth. The process is fairly easy and this is the only time when this type of blood sample can be collected.
You can also decide to bank or donate cord blood at the time of your delivery. Cord blood can be used to treat certain types of bone marrow-related cancers. Some parents may choose to save (bank) their child's cord blood for this and other future medical purposes.
Cord blood banking for personal use is done by private companies. There is a charge for the service. Cord blood can also be donated to your local blood bank for use by others as needed for cancer treatment.
References
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. ACOG committee opinion no. 648: umbilical cord blood banking. Obstet Gynecol . 2015;126(6):e127-129. PMID: 26595583. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26595583 .
Greco NJ, Elkins M. Tissue banking and progenitor cells. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods . 23rd ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2017:chap 38.
Waldorf KMA. Maternal-fetal immunology. In: Gabbe SG, Niebyl JR, Simpson JL, et al, eds. Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies . 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 4.
Review Date: 5/16/2016
Reviewed By: Irina Burd, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
