An 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), amniotic fluid, or vomit for markers that show whether the blood is maternal or fetal. Amniotic fluid is the fluid that surrounds your baby in the womb (uterus).
What kind of sample is taken?
Depending on where the blood is present, a sample may be collected from your baby's:
Stool.
Amniotic fluid.