- Apt-Downey test
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 freehemoglobin .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. [ [http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic381.htm eMedicine] ]
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.
* http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=1069-6563&site=1
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