Background: Anemia is one of the most common abnormalities in pediatric medicine. Considerable differences are seen in the peripheral blood indices of infants in developing countries. The aim of this study was to determine and compared blood hemoglobin concentration in three sites of sampling in neonate.
Materials and methods: 1600 term and preterm new infant in three sites of sampling (cord, capillary and venous) were taken under investigation. All neonates were examined during first day. The methodology excluded patients with a high likelihood of receiving blood transfusions and those who had a diagnosis of neonatal anemia. Finally, obtained data were analyzed and then compared to other hematology results.
Results: Mean hemoglobin value obtained from cord was 15.39+/- 5.39 SD and from capillary were 19.62+/- 5.75 SD and from venous were 17+/- 7.79 SD. Mean hemoglobin value of cord in term neonates were 15.4+/- 5.07 SD and pre term neonates were 14.77+/- 1.69 SD. (P=0.036) Mean hemoglobin value of capillary in term neonates were 19.63+/- 5.76 SD and pre term neonates were 18.85+/- 1.79 SD. (P=0.015) Mean hemoglobin value of venous in term neonates were 17.01+/- 7.81 SD and pre term neonates were 16.15+/- 1.76 SD. (P=0.012) There was a correlation between cord and capillary mean hemoglobin. (P=0.0235).
Conclusions: The capillary samples had a higher mean hemoglobin concentration than other groups. There was no difference between these data with respect to the hemoglobin values for any groups.
Keywords: Anemia; Capillaries; Hemoglobins.