Apt Test/Fetal Hemoglobin

Message

It is important that the stool be bloody and red and not tarry, because oxyhemoglobin has already been converted to hematin in a tarry stool.

Test Code

APTFH

Alias/See Also

Fetal Hemoglobin in Feces (Qualitative)

CPT Codes
83033

Preferred Specimen

Stool from baby, stool in diaper, vomitus, or gastric contents

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL of liquid stool or enough formed stool to cover the tip of an applicator stick

Other Acceptable Specimens

none

Instructions

If a Gastrocult or Hemocult on the specimen is negative, a result of "Insufficient amount of blood present to analyze" will be reported. After a positive Gastrocult or Hemocult has been obtained, this test will be resulted as either "Maternal Hgb Present" or "Fetal Hgb Present".

Transport Container

Sterile Specimen Container

Specimen Stability

Keep specimen from room air

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

tarry stool

Methodology
Manual

Setup Schedule

Daily on Receipt

Report Available

Upon Completion of Analysis

Reference Range

Negative for Fetal Hemoglobin

Clinical Significance

To determine whether blood in infant stool is from intestinal bleeding or swallowing maternal blood during delivery.

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.