Exploring Innovations in Human Milk Analysis in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Survey of the United States

. 2021 Sep 3;8:692600. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.692600

Units using the creamatocrit method	Units using mid or near-infrared spectroscopy
“As a guide as we do not feel it is accurate” “Mainly looking for kcal/oz… if infant isn't growing well” “We rarely have lactation spin a sample and when they do it really doesn't see all that accurate. How can a baby be growing poorly if mom's milk comes back at 27 or 32 cal/oz? It doesn't make sense, so we really don't use it as a general practice.” “to determine net kcal/oz to give to patient”	“[To] increase fortification level for infants with poor growth or decrease if gaining to much weight” “If growth is faltering and we need help adjusting fortification. I do not find the analysis is to be very representative of what the growth chart shows, so we don't do this often” “Based on result, standard fortifier added per our feeding guidelines and then adjusted to meet targeted fortification intake goal. Adjust protein first, then fat and last CHO to meet [estimated] energy goal.” “We use human milk analysis as determined clinically necessary for medically or surgically complex patients to determine macronutrient composition and add a protein modular and fat modular to adjust content as needed.”

Units using the creamatocrit method

Units using mid or near-infrared spectroscopy

“As a guide as we do not feel it is accurate”
“Mainly looking for kcal/oz… if infant isn't growing well”
“We rarely have lactation spin a sample and when they do it really doesn't see all that accurate. How can a baby be growing poorly if mom's milk comes back at 27 or 32 cal/oz? It doesn't make sense, so we really don't use it as a general practice.”
“to determine net kcal/oz to give to patient”

“[To] increase fortification level for infants with poor growth or decrease if gaining to much weight”
“If growth is faltering and we need help adjusting fortification. I do not find the analysis is to be very representative of what the growth chart shows, so we don't do this often”
“Based on result, standard fortifier added per our feeding guidelines and then adjusted to meet targeted fortification intake goal. Adjust protein first, then fat and last CHO to meet [estimated] energy goal.”
“We use human milk analysis as determined clinically necessary for medically or surgically complex patients to determine macronutrient composition and add a protein modular and fat modular to adjust content as needed.”