Specimen Requirements

 Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

1. PREFERRED - Cord blood appropriately labeled
   • PolicyStat – TM290 Blood Administration, Transfusion Management Policy, NICU < 4 months old considerations.) 
2. Alternative - 500 uL EDTA microtainer (lavender top) whole blood from the baby, appropriately labeled.
3. From Mom - if available – 6 mL pink EDTA whole blood (preferred) or 4 mL EDTA lavender-top (alternate), appropriately labeled.
   • (PolicyStat – TM290-Blood Administration, Transfusion Management Policy, NICU < 4 months old considerations.)

• NICU Baby specimens are kept for duration of admission and 14 days post hospital discharge.

• For specimens collected by a non-staff member or outside of the Logan Health System, the collector will not have mnemonics.
  • At the discretion of the Blood Bank CLS, these can be accepted with Collector’s and Verifier’s; Initials, Printed Name, or Signature, as long as a location is specified.

• The patient name, date of birth, collection date, and collection time must be on the label.

Unacceptable

• Hemolyzed Specimens
• Mislabeled or unlabeled Specimens
• Illegible specimen labels - NO GEL PENS

Cord Blood

Nursing obtains Cord Blood and labels the tube at bedside with MobiLab or the baby's chart labels.

1. Cord blood must be labeled with the following information:
   • Baby's Name
   • Baby's Birthdate
   • Baby's account number – (If baby is a multiple i.e. twins)
   • Mom's name
   • Collector’s mnemonics and 2nd person Verifier’s mnemonics
   • Collection date and time.
2. Properly labeled Cord Blood is sent to the Lab.

Baby’s Peripheral Blood

1. If no cord blood is obtained, a peripheral blood specimen will be collected from the baby and labeled as above.

Mom’s Blood (if Mom available to be drawn)

Check that the Mom is wearing a hospital identification wristband and baby identification wristband.  Both bands must be attached to the Mom's body.

1. Compare the Mom's wristband information to the baby identification wristband and with the information on the provider order.
2. Write Mom’s name on Baby’s Lab labels for NEOTX using a ballpoint pen. (DO NOT USE GEL PEN).
3. Have the Baby’s mother state their child's birthdate as a second method of identification.
4. Use the Baby’s neonatal transfusion profile lab label or Baby’s Chart label to label Mom’s blood tube.
5. The following information is required on the specimen tube:
   • Baby’s identified name
   • Baby’s Date of Birth
   • Baby's account number – (If baby is a multiple i.e. twins)
   • Notation , “Mom’s Blood”
   • Collector’s mnemonics (and 2nd person Verifier mnemonics if not using MobiLab)
   • Date and Time of Collection
6. Properly labeled specimen is sent to the Lab.