Apt-Downey test

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The Apt-Downey test is used to help differentiate between maternal from baby blood.

The blood is placed in a test tube; sterile water is added to hemolyze the RBCs, yielding free hemoglobin.

This solution then is mixed with 1% sodium hydroxide. If the solution turns yellow-brown, the hemoglobin is maternal or adult hemoglobin, which is less stable than fetal hemoglobin.

If the solution remains the same color, it is the more stable fetal hemoglobin; therefore, the newborn is the source of the bleeding.[1]

[edit] References

Pediatric Gastrointestinal Bleeding, emedicine, Renee Y Hsia, MD, MSc, Faculty, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California at San Francisco; Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital

"My two-week old daughter is throwing up blood", Moustafa MH, Taylor, MD, Fletcher L. Los Angeles County-Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center, 12021 South Wilmington Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA.

  1. ^ http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic381.htm