Impact of race and gestational age on red blood cell indices in very low birth weight infants.

BACKGROUND: Normative data for hematologic values in the very low birth weight infants are limited and inconsistent, with the reported mean hematocrit (HCT) in these infants ranging from 43.5% to 60%. No data are available on the effect of race. OBJECTIVES: To establish normative data for hemoglobin (Hb) and HCT by arterial sampling obtained during the first 3 hours after birth in black and white premature infants