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Apt Test- What is this test for?
- Apt test is performed on newborn babies who have blood in their stomach or intestines (gastrointestinal tract,or GI tract). The test determines if the blood belongs to the mother (maternal blood) or the baby (fetal blood).
- It can help determine if your baby has a GI tract disease or if he or she swallowed blood during birth or breastfeeding.
What is being tested?
An apt test checks blood in a newborn’s stool (feces) or vomit for markers that show whether the blood is maternal or fetal.
What kind of sample is taken?
Depending on where the blood is present, a health care provider will collect a sample of your baby’s:
- Stool. This may be collected from a dirty diaper.
- Vomit.
How are the results reported?
Your baby’s test results will be reported as positive or negative for fetal blood.
What do the results mean?
A result that is negative for fetal blood is considered normal. This means that the blood in the sample is maternal blood, and it was likely ingested during birth or breastfeeding.
A result that is positive for fetal blood may mean that your baby has a GI tract disease and may need more tests.
Talk with your baby’s health care provider about what your baby’s results mean.
Questions to ask your child’s health care provider
Ask your baby’s health care provider, or the department that is doing the test:
- When will my baby’s results be ready?
- How will I get my baby’s results?
- What are my baby’s treatment options?
- What other tests does my baby need?
- What are my next steps?
Summary
- An apt test is performed on newborn babies who have blood in their stomach or intestines.
- If newborn blood (fetal blood) is present in the sample, this may mean that your newborn has a GI tract disease and may need more tests.
