Apt test
Last reviewed 01/2018
The Apt test is used to determine the source of blood in stool or vomitus in a neonate - it detects whether the blood is neonatal or swallowed maternal.
The test is based on the different responses of adult and fetal haemoglobin - a pink solution implies fetal haemoglobin, a yellow-brown solution implies adult haemoglobin, and thus confirms swallowed maternal blood.