Nutrition Lab

The Nutrition Lab at CHOC is responsible for preparing breast milk and specialized formulas for our patients with unique feeding needs. This process is done in a sanitary environment and uses a special barcoding inventory system to ensure accuracy. The Nutrition Lab houses a breast milk freezer and a commercial dishwasher, and is staffed with registered dietetic technicians. CHOC also operates a satellite Nutrition Lab in the CHOC NICU at St. Joseph Hospital.

• Storing, fortifying and tracking breast milk for babies
• Preparing formula for babies
• Preparing formula for children with feeding tubes.

For babies staying with us in the hospital, we work closely with moms to pump breast milk and store it at the hospital for regular feedings. Our registered dietetic technicians (DTRs) manage breast milk feeding orders and may fortify breast milk according to a doctor’s order. Barcodes are scanned during receiving, preparation and feeding to ensure a correct match for every feeding, and to prevent the use of expired breast milk.

The Nutrition Lab is also responsible for managing formula orders. This includes the preparation of specialized formulas and distribution of tube-feeding formulas to patients throughout the hospital in a timely manner. Our DTRs calculate specialized infant formula recipes based on formula orders, under the supervision of registered dietitians (RDs).

CHOC has a team of registered dietetic technicians (DTRs) who expertly handle all breast milk and formula preparation at the Nutrition Lab. DTRs have completed a minimum of an associate degree and have completed a minimum of 450 supervised practice hours through a dietetic technician program or completed a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in dietetics (meeting the requirements of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics). They also have successfully completed the registration examination for dietetic technicians and must continue to complete at least 50 continuing education credits every five years.