St. Luke’s Maternal Fetal Medicine

Umbilical Blood Sampling

Umbilical blood sampling, otherwise known as percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS), is used for special circumstances in which evaluation of fetal blood is particularly important to the diagnosis of a specific fetal condition. This may include genetic testing, evaluation of fetal thyroid function, evaluation of fetal anemia, or certain fetal illnesses such as fetal hydrops (fetal swelling). During PUBS, using direct and continuous ultrasound the physician (with an additional physician assistant) guides a needle inside the uterine cavity to the baby’s umbilical cord vein. The doctor inserts the slender needle to evaluate the specific fetal condition. Only the amount of blood necessary to evaluate the fetal condition is obtained. In special circumstances, blood products or certain medications are administered to the baby directly through the umbilical cord.

St. Luke’s Maternal Fetal Medicine
333 N. 1st Street, Suite 150
Boise, ID 83702
(208) 381-3088