An apparatus and method for collecting blood from the umbilical cord of a newborn into a standard vacuum collection tube is disclosed wherein the apparatus comprises a funnel shaped body with a plurality of stabilizing supports, an upper inlet and a lower outlet, a cylindrical receiving receptacle attached to one side of the body, a channel connecting the lower outlet to the cylindrical receiving receptacle, and a needle with flow passage contained therein attached to that end of the channel in contact with the cylindrical receiving receptacle.