CO measurements and serum lactate levels add little information to the decision-making process for blood transfusions, as neither CO nor serum lactate levels correlate with HB levels in an otherwise asymptomatic population of preterm infants. In infants where the indication for blood transfusion is made based on traditionally accepted clinical criteria, serum lactate is an additional laboratory indicator of impaired oxygenation, as it correlates significantly with oxygen delivery. A significant lower oxygen delivery in patients in whom blood transfusion is indicated and an increase in oxygen induced by transfusion demonstrate the value of these criteria in identifying preterm infants who benefit from transfusion.

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