title: Routine testing of umbilical cord blood after normal delivery should be discontinued.
abstract: On many newborns in Sweden routine samples of blood are taken from the umbilical cord after birth to measure the acid-base balance. These tests were introduced with the aim to objectively measure the well-being and stress levels of the newborn. The information was to be used as a measurement of quality of care, for research and as a tool to help guide decisions around the care-needs of the newborn. After 10 years of routine analysis it has become clear that the results of these tests have limited clinical value and that they are a poor measurement of quality of care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science, Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Danderyds Sjukhus, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: ingela.wiklund@bbstockholm.se.
authors.forename: Ingela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wiklund
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Division of Reproductive Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahlberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dahlström
authors.affiliation: The Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Health and Care Science, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weichselbraun
authors.affiliation: Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sjörs
mesh_terms: D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D013548:Sweden; D014470:Umbilical Cord
keywords: Normal delivery; Routine testing; Umbilical cord blood