Revisiting Routine: Reducing Unnecessary CBC Testing After Scheduled Cesarean Delivery

Patients admitted to hospital undergo unnecessary blood work, leading to patient harm, additional testing, health care inefficiency, and environmental waste. Many hospitals routinely order a complete blood count (CBC) after cesarean delivery to detect significant anemia. The argument against routine postoperative testing is threefold: (1) routine hemoglobin measurement does not change clinical management for most patients and can cause harm; (2) risk factors for developing anemia that requires transfusion are known (e.g., preoperative anemia, high intraoperative blood loss, and non-elective surgery), and (3) postpartum bedside assessment can trigger a CBC draw for patients with symptoms (e.g., dizziness, oliguria, tachycardia, and hypotension).