Collecting the G6PD blood sample from the umbilical cord

[Jessica Bautz]

Hello, I am a nurse educator currently involved in training Labor and Delivery nurses to collect the G6PD blood sample from the umbilical cord. We will start to collect this universally from all newborns. Previously, the collection had been taken from the heel stick of infants in the high risk group. Unfortunately, as this required the filling of two microtaners and a lot of manipulation of the heel, we experienced a lot of clotted specimens. Now that we are starting universal collection, we are moving to collecting the sample from the umbilical cord, as is done in other hospitals within our hospital system. and in other hospitals in New York. Interested to know if you have experience with collecting this specimen from the umbilical cord, and if you have any tips or tricks! Thank you!