The Apt-Downey test is used to help differentiate between maternal and baby blood.[1][2]
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.[3]
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