Testing Your Infant
Collecting Urine
The area where your infant urinates is cleaned. A small, flexible tube, or catheter, is placed into your infant’s bladder to get urine. We will take the catheter out as soon as we collect the urine sample. This sample will help the doctor check for any infection in your baby's urine.
Collecting Blood
We will place a thin plastic tube, called an IV, into a vein to collect some blood. This sample will help the doctor check for any infection in your baby’s blood. We may leave this IV in the vein so we can give your baby fluids and medicines.
Collecting Spinal Fluid
A spinal tap is also called a lumbar puncture. It is done to remove a small amount of spinal fluid. Someone will hold your baby still during the procedure to keep them safe. The healthcare provider will clean your baby’s back and then place a needle between the bones in the lower part of the spine. The needle does not enter the spinal cord. The needle goes into the lower back below the level of the spinal cord. A small amount of fluid drips into tubes. We will remove the needle as soon as the fluid is collected. A small bandage will be placed over the area.
