Misread Lab Results in the NICU: Birth Injury Risks You Didn’t Know About

When a newborn baby requires the assistance of the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), worried parents hope that their baby is getting the best care possible. Babies should be cared for around-the-clock by specialized medical providers experienced in every sort of medical issue that can affect neonates. However, even in this environment, mistakes and negligence can occur. NICU lab errors can cause serious injuries to neonates, and it is crucial that parents who have experienced a poor outcome explore their options.

Lab results can mean the difference between the right plan of care for a vulnerable newborn and waiting it out or choosing a completely inappropriate care plan. If you suspect that lab errors may be behind your NICU baby’s health concerns, let’s talk. Call Crandall & Pera Law, LLC today to set up a consultation with our birth injury lawyers now.

Why lab testing in the NICU matters so much

Babies who wind up in the NICU are among the most vulnerable hospital patients. Newborns’ bodies have very limited physiological reserves, and that’s especially true when a baby is born prematurely, well past their due date, with a birth injury, or with a disability. Tiny fluctuations in oxygen, glucose, and bilirubin levels can lead to the need for emergency operations and life-saving care. That’s why NICUs rely so heavily on accurate lab data.

NICU teams may order a long list of lab tests, including:

• Blood tests to assess pH, oxygenation, and carbon dioxide levels
• Bilirubin levels to watch for the risk of jaundice
• Electrolyte panels monitor and prevent seizures and heart problems caused by electrolyte imbalances
• Glucose panels for the detection of hypoglycemia
• CBCs to detect clotting disorders and anemia
• Blood cultures and infection markers to watch for sepsis

Every single one of these tests carries high stakes. A misread bilirubin result could mean that jaundice goes undiagnosed and turns into permanent brain damage. A failure to look at electrolyte levels could put a vulnerable newborn through preventable seizures. An incorrectly done blood culture test could cause care providers to miss the early signs of sepsis.

How lab errors or misreads happen

NICUs are known for having extremely robust procedures meant to minimize the risk of preventable harm to babies, particularly since they are so very vulnerable at this stage. These mistakes are often completely preventable with proper attention and protocols. Common errors include:

• Sample handling errors: Newborn samples are incredibly small and susceptible to damage or mishandling. Samples may be mislabeled or unintentionally switched prior to labeling, including contaminated or clotted blood samples, stored improperly, or skewed due to delays in transport.
• Lab processing errors: The lab itself can also introduce errors that change the course of a child’s life. Equipment that is improperly calibrated or malfunctions during analysis can yield error codes or incorrect results. There may also be human errors in transcription or while manually interpreting results. Using incorrect reference ranges—for example, those for adults or older children instead of for newborns—can also result in inaccurate results.
• Clinical misinterpretation: Clinical teams must read and react to results promptly (and appropriately) to provide appropriate care to patients. Overlooking abnormal values, failing to pass results up the chain of command, or misinterpreting borderline results can cause preventable harm to patients.
• Systemic issues within the department: Most NICU departments run very smoothly, thanks to the commitment and hard work of those who dedicate their lives to saving babies. However, there are departments that face notorious systemic issues. Staffing shortages, undertrained lab technicians, no neonatal-specific protocols, and no double-check procedures can all cause poor lab results to slip through the cracks.

Types of birth injuries

Misread or mishandled NICU lab results can result in a variety of serious birth injuries. Hypoglycemia is incredibly dangerous in newborn babies, and if low glucose levels are not immediately addressed, babies may experience seizures, brain swelling, and permanent cognitive impairment.

Severe jaundice may result from misread or misinterpreted bilirubin levels. In severe cases, bilirubin can affect brain tissue, resulting in kernicterus. This causes hearing loss, motor impairment, and neurological disability.

Injuries caused by electrolyte imbalance can leave babies permanently injured. Seizures, cardiac arrhythmias, permanent neurological damage, and organ failure are all potential outcomes.

Untreated infections can rapidly overtake a newborn’s fragile body. Misinterpreted blood cultures can cause sepsis to go undetected before it causes shock, brain injury, or death.

Hypoxia may not be detected early enough if blood gas results are not handled correctly. The longer a baby remains hypoxic, the greater the likelihood of cerebral palsy or other developmental delays.

Why do these errors often go unrecognized or unreported?

When babies pass away or suffer permanent harm in the NICU, parents rarely think about lab errors. The NICU is already a place known for unpredictable outcomes, simply due to how quickly things can change for newborns. So when there’s a poor outcome, parents aren’t likely to dwell on lab errors. Additionally, if an error is identified, hospitals may deny liability. They may attribute a baby’s death or permanent disability to prematurity, unpreventable infection, unavoidable NICU risks, or the natural outcome of a complex birth.

On top of that, new parents are already in a very fragile state. They may be running on little to no sleep, going through the postpartum experience, sticking to a rigid pumping cycle, and centering their days around NICU visits. In this state of mind, it’s very difficult to consider the potential reasons for a baby’s sudden downturn. Many parents don’t realize what went wrong until they talk to a birth injury attorney.

Get the representation you deserve with Crandall & Pera Law

If your baby was permanently injured or passed away due to a NICU error, we are so very sorry for your loss and pain. This is something no parent should ever have to experience. We’re here to help you figure out what went wrong and determine whether or not you have a birth injury claim. We’re here for you during this sensitive time – please call us today or get in touch online.