INBORN

Cord blood should arrive from L&D with a VUMC form "Blood Bank" (60-001-260) signed from L&D. When the baby’s addressograph card is available, the blood will be sent to Blood Bank by NICU. The blood bank will perform a Type & Direct Coombs test on all babys’ blood whose mothers were type O, Rh -, or had a positive antibody test. The physician will need to order a cord blood Type & Cross if he/she needs to transfuse a baby whose cord blood was not automatically tested.

OUTBORN

Due to concerns about appropriate labeling and handling, cord blood obtained by outside institutions will not be used by the Blood Bank to Type & Cross an outborn baby. Maternal blood is no longer needed to Type & Cross these babies, either.

If cord blood is sent with the Angel team, it should be discarded unless the physician wants an IgM, TORCH titer, or bilirubin. Alert the physician before discarding.

Resolved at Nursery Policy & Procedure Meeting 1/19/00.