AUTOLOGOUS UMBILICAL-CORD BLOOD-TRANSFUSION

The purpose of this study was to examine some aspects of umbilical cor d blood collection for autologous transfusion in premature infants. Al l 120 microbacterial cultures (aerobic and anaerobic) of cord blood sa mples as well as 30 cultures of mycoplasma were treated. Cord prothrom bin fragment (F 1+2) concentrations were quantified at one and 10 minu tes after clamping of the cord. F 1+2 concentrations assessed on 25 ne wborn infants were similar and no linear association with time of clam ping could be drawn. This means that cord blood thrombosis is not acti vated for at least 10 minutes following clamping of the cord. As far a s is known, the first newborn infant to benefit from this method of tr ansfusion is reported here. The premature infant received two portions of autologous blood (on days 5 and 7). No untoward effects were noted . Blood, collected from the umbilical cord, is a safe source for autot ransfusion, provided that bacteriological testing has been carried out .