To original question; in our lab neonatal blood group typing is valid until 6 months of ages. If baby needs blood products another sample must be drawn. From the second sample we do ABO, antibody screening (four cells) and IAT with A1- and B-cells to make sure there is no immunisation. For very small babys and babys requiring intensive care unit, (electronic) cross-match is valid for 16 weeks. For others it is five days. We give ABO RhD typed matching blood for babies, we do not give babies only O blood. Plasma products are AB. If the mother has any blood group antibodies we take them into account and give blood that could fit the mother (other phenotypes, not the ABO) also. We tend not to use hematology tubes because tubes for blood bank are always signed. But occasionally (mostly with children) we can search for the hematology tube. Interesting conversation!
