PUBS – Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling

Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling is an invasive procedure performed under ultrasound guidance where a needle is inserted into the umbilical cord to obtain a blood sample from the baby. The most common reason for a PUBS procedure is to determine the baby’s red blood cell count and exclude the presence of severe fetal anemia and rapid genetic testing in the presence of a given fetal malformation at an advanced pregnancy age. 

If significant anemia is detected at the time of the PUBS, than a blood transfusion to the fetus can be carried out.