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You are here : 3-RX.com > Medical Encyclopedia > Tests and Exams > Cord Blood Tests: Results and Values

Cord Blood Tests

Alternate Names : Cord Blood Test, Cord Blood Sampling

Cord Blood Tests | Preparation & Expectations | Results and Values

What do the test results mean?

The following tests may be performed on the cord blood:

  • Blood gases, to evaluate the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the newborn baby
  • Cord pH
  • Respiratory status, including pH, pCO2, pO2. pH tells how the lungs are functioning in using oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. pO2 and pCO2 measure the pressure levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the baby.
  • Complete blood count, called CBC
  • Platelet count, which is one measure of the blood's clotting ability
  • Blood type
  • Blood cultures for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria to rule out infection
  • Bilirubin
  • Blood glucose
  • Test results will be within a healthy range for some babies. For others, abnormal results suggest certain health problems or other issues:

  • A low pH (less than 7.25) indicates high levels of acid in the infant's bloodstream. This may occur if the mother or baby does not get enough oxygen during labor. It may also happen if the umbilical cord becomes compressed during delivery.
  • A positive blood culture may show abnormal bacteria in the mother or infant.
  • A high blood glucose level may be present if the mother has diabetes. If so, the baby may have a dramatic drop in his or her blood glucose level after birth. This condition is called hypoglycemia.
  • A high bilirubin level can be a sign of several health issues, such as:

  • jaundice in the mother. This is a yellowing of the skin caused by too much of the liver protein called bilirubin in the blood.
  • Rh incompatibility, which is a problem with blood compatibility between the baby and the mother
  • Dubin-Johnson syndrome, a condition in which a collection of bilirubin in the baby's liver cells causes jaundice
  • sulfa medicines taken by the mother during pregnancy
  • toxoplasmosis, an infection that causes destructive lesions of the nervous system
  • rubella, also known as German measles, a disease that may cause birth defects in a baby if the mother had it during the first 2 to 3 months of pregnancy
  • hepatitis, an inflammation in the baby's liver
  • cytomegalovirus, known as CMV, an infection that may cause symptoms such as fever, lethargy, and loss of appetite in the baby

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    Author: Eva Martin, MD
    Reviewer: Kathleen A. MacNaughton, RN, BSN
    Date Reviewed: 10/07/02



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