Fetal blood testing

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Fetal blood testing

Overview

Risks

Results

Fetal blood testing

Alternative Names:

Fetal scalp blood; Scalp pH testing

Normal Values:

Normal pH: 7.25 - 7.35
Borderline pH: 7.20 - 7.25
Low pH: less than 7.20

What abnormal results mean:

In general, low pH suggests that the baby is not tolerating labor very well. However, the results of a fetal scalp pH sample need to be interpreted in the context of each individual delivery. The doctor should explain the test results. The doctor may find the results reassuring, and labor may continue as before. Alternatively, he or she may feel that the results indicate that the baby needs to be delivered quickly, either by forceps or by cesarean section.

The results may not really point in either direction, and the test may need to be repeated in 20-30 minutes. It may need to be repeated a few times during a complicated labor.

Low pH values in cord blood taken from an umbilical cord artery can also suggest that the fetus is not getting enough oxygen during labor. Because scalp pH testing is only one of many tests by which the baby may be evaluated during labor, the results must be interpreted in context and explained to the mother.

Review Date: 7/19/2004
Reviewed By: Peter Chen, M.D., Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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