|
Iowa Neonatology Handbook: Procedures
Apt Test for Fetal Hemoglobin
Iowa Neonatology Fellows
Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed
I. Purpose: To differentiate fetal blood from swallowed
maternal blood in the evaluation of bloody stools.
II. Method: Mix specimen with 3-5 ml of tap water and
centrifuge. Supernatant must have a pink color to proceed. To 5 parts
of supernatant, add 1 part of 0.25 N (1%) NaOH.
III. Interpretation: A pink color persisting over 2 minutes
indicates fetal hemoglobin. Adult hemoglobin gives a pink color that
becomes yellowish brown in 2 minutes or less indicating denaturation
of the adult hemoglobin.
Section Top | Title Page
|
