Should We Screen Cord Blood For ABO Incompatibility?

Abstract

Background: Routinetperformance of blood group and direct coombs test (DCT) on cord blood is controversial. At our institution, from 2007-2013, cord blood type and DCT was obtained for every newborn born to O positive mothers. For newborns with ABO incompatibility, first bilirubin check occurred at 6 hours of life. Phototherapy would commence in newborn nursery if needed with transfer to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for intensive phototherapy or additional intervention, including IVIG and exchange transfusion. Beginning 2014, routine cord blood group and DCT was no longer performed. First bilirubin level …