PEDIATRICS Vol. 71 No. 3 March 1983, pp. 461-462
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Carboxyhemoglobin Concentration in Fetal Cord Blood

R. HUCH 1, A. HUCH 1, P. TUCHSCHMID 2, W. G. ZIJLSTRA 3, and A. ZWART 3

1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
2 Department of Pediatrics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
3 Department of Physiology, University of Groningen

To the Editor.—

Bureau et al1 reported that the concentration of carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO) is increased more than twofold in cord blood of newborns of smoking mothers as compared to corresponding values in maternal venous blood. Data were obtained from an IL 282 (Instrumentation Laboratory, Lexington) Co-oximeter, an instrument using spectroscopic multicomponent analysis of HbO2, Hb, MetHb, and HbCO in whole blood.

We are concerned that the data presented are due to an artifact of HbCO measurement as the instrument used is not suitable for the correct measurement of HbCO concentrations in fetal blood.