Fine-needle aspiration in the evaluation of nucleated red blood cells in the human placenta.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between placental and umbilical cord nucleated red blood cell counts.

Study Design: Eighty placentas and their matched umbilical cord blood samples were collected prospectively immediately after delivery. In vitro fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimens were used to obtain placental tissue samples.

The association of fetal heart rate patterns with nucleated red blood cell counts at birth.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between fetal heart rate patterns and fetal nucleated red blood cell counts.

Study Design: Data were collected prospectively from March through September 2000. Umbilical cord blood was used for nucleated red blood cell analysis.