--- title: What is the Apgar Test date: 2023-11-20T16:24:00-05:00 author: Courtney Flickinger canonical_url: "https://www.americordblood.com/articles/what-is-the-apgar-test" section: Articles --- ![A female doctor carefully examining baby's ear with a medical instrument.](https://assets.americordblood.com/transforms/blogs/73917/newborn-health-screening-baby-americord_77f19dfcc5139ec608dbdccd00467b46.png) [ Pregnancy & Parenting ](https://www.americordblood.com/articles/pregnancy-parenting) 5 Min Read # What is the Apgar Test Testing a baby's physical health is an essential step after birth. The Apgar test is the gold standard for newborn testing. By examining various factors — like reflexes, heart rate, and appearance — this assessment helps health care providers determine if a baby needs medical intervention or assistance. Read on to learn more about the Apgar test, the criteria it measures, and what different scores indicate. ## What Is an Apgar Test? The Apgar test is an assessment to evaluate the physical condition of babies immediately after birth. It was developed [by Dr. Virginia Apgar](https://healthmatters.nyp.org/apgar-score/) in 1952 and determines if a baby has heart or breathing complications and requires resuscitation. Dr. Apgar's test became the first clinical method to identify newborns' health needs. It also helped spark the development of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). You can remember the tenets of the Apgar test using it as an acronym: - Appearance - Pulse - Grimace - Activity - Respiration A pediatrician, nurse, OB-GYN, or midwife performs this test at the one- and five-minute mark after a baby's birth — unless emergency circumstances require the baby to be transferred to the NICU right away. The one-minute score measures how well the newborn tolerated the labor and delivery process. The five-minute score determines how well the baby is acclimating to life outside their mother's womb. In some cases, an infant with a low score at five minutes may be tested again at the 10-minute mark. Typically, this occurs for newborns with a score less than 5. This retesting period allows the child time to recover from birth. The Apgar test can also measure how well a baby responds to resuscitation if it is necessary after birth. ## What Does the Apgar Test Measure? A newborn is assigned an Apgar score of 0-2 on these five metrics. ### 1. Breathing Effort The doctor will check how well the newborn is breathing: - **Good breathing and crying:** 2 points - **Irregular or slow breathing:** 1 point - **No breathing:** 0 points ### 2. Heart Rate A health care provider will use a stethoscope to listen to the newborn's heart: - **Heartbeat of 100 beats per minute or greater:** 2 points - **Heartbeat less than 100 beats per minute:** 1 point - **Nondetectable heartbeat:** 0 points ### 3. Muscle Tone The doctor will measure your baby's movement and activity: - **Lots of moving around:** 2 points - **Some arm and leg movement:** 1 point - **Inactive, loose, or floppy muscles:** 0 points ### 4. Reflexes The health care provider will measure your baby's grimace response or reflex irritability. This is their response to stimulation, such as a mild pinch: - **Grimacing with a hearty cry, sneeze, or cough:** 2 points - **Grimacing:** 1 point - **Unresponsive to stimulation:** 0 points ### 5. Skin Color The doctor will examine your baby's skin color to determine their health: - **Pink all over:** 2 points - **Pink body with blue extremities:** 1 point - **Pale blue:** 0 points A baby can earn a total of 10 possible points. Essentially, the higher the score, the better the infant is adjusting to life outside the womb. Most [newborns receive a](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/23094-apgar-score) 7, 8, or 9 on the Apgar test. A perfect score is highly unusual, as most newborns lose a point for blue hands and feet. Blue extremities are a normal occurrence after birth due to underdeveloped blood circulation. In fact, a baby's hands and feet [may remain bluish for](https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=newborn-appearance-90-P02691) several days. ## What Score Does a Baby Need to Pass the APGAR Test? An Apgar score of 7 or higher typically indicates a healthy newborn. The lower the score, the more help an infant needs adjusting to life outside their mother's womb. Here are the Apgar score ranges and what they usually indicate: - **A score of 7-10:** The baby is in good to excellent health, only requiring routine post-delivery care. - **A score of 4-6:** The baby is in fair condition. They may need some resuscitation. - **A score below 4:** The baby needs immediate medical attention. If a baby's Apgar score is below 7 at the five-minute mark, the doctor may repeat the test a few minutes later. This allows them to check the progress of any actions taken to address cardiac or respiratory concerns. ## What Does a Low Apgar Score Mean? A low Apgar test score often results from the following factors: - A cesarean section (C-section) - Fluid in the baby's airway - A premature birth - A high-risk pregnancy - A complicated labor and delivery process If a baby scores low on their Apgar test, they may have trouble adjusting to life outside the womb due to an airway blockage, a traumatic birth, or other factors. ### Measures to Address a Low Apgar Score Keep in mind that a low Apgar score doesn't mean your baby is unhealthy or will have long-term health issues. It just means they need some form of medical care. If your doctor, nurse, or midwife has concerns about your newborn's score, they'll explain what the problem may be and the steps being taken to address it. Depending on the situation, the baby may require: - **Airway clearing:** A newborn may require airway suctioning to stimulate their breathing. - **Oxygen:** A doctor may place an oxygen mask over the baby's face to help them breathe properly. If the newborn doesn't start breathing independently within a few minutes, the doctor may place a tube in their windpipe. - **Medication or fluid:** A newborn may receive medications and fluids through a blood vessel in their umbilical cord. This can help strengthen the baby's heartbeat. - **Physical stimulation:** The doctor may stimulate and dry the newborn to help their heartbeat reach a normal rate. Healthy babies sometimes score low in the first few minutes after birth. Additionally, most babies with low one-minute scores [show healthy scores by](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470569/) the five-minute mark. If a baby still shows a low score after the above methods, they'll be moved to the NICU for more intensive treatment. Just remember that an Apgar score isn't meant to reflect a baby's long-term health, behavior, personality, or intelligence. Most babies with low scores end up adjusting to life outside the womb just fine. ![Call to action guiding readers to download the Americord info guide to prepare for their family's healthy future.](https://assets.americordblood.com/transforms/blogs/183894/secure-healthy-future-info-guide-americord_be7aaffd48750bec4e355d7110544d3f.png) ## Prepare for Your Infant's Future With Stem Cell Storage While a low Apgar result doesn't mean a child will have long-term health issues, it also doesn't rule out the possibility. Parents can equip themselves to handle their child's medical future by storing umbilical cord blood and tissue. At Americord®, helping families live long, healthy lives is our passion and drive. Through our private bank, we extract, process, and securely store [stem cells from cord blood](https://www.americordblood.com/cord-blood), cord tissue, and placental tissue. These cells can benefit you, your baby, and other family members. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from cord blood have aided in a variety [of FDA-approved treatments](https://www.americordblood.com/fda-approved-treatments), including leukemias, lymphomas, phagocyte disorders (neutrophil or white cell disorder), and bone marrow cancers. When you choose to bank stem cells with Americord®, you put your family's needs at the forefront. Call ([866-503-6005](tel:8665036005)) today to learn more about our services! *The views, statements, and pricing expressed are deemed reliable as of the published date. Articles may not reflect current pricing, offerings, or recent innovations.* ### Cord Tissue Banking Preserve your baby’s umbilical cord tissue with CryoMaxx™ Processing and unlock the full potential for the entire family. Use in 100’s of clinical trials including Cerebral Palsy, Parkinson’s, surgical applications, and more. [ View Service ](https://www.americordblood.com/cord-tissue) ### Be the First to Know Never miss the latest cord blood breakthrough, clinical trial, or stem cell education to keep your family healthy for life. 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[ Read More ](https://www.americordblood.com/articles/the-power-of-early-detection-12-illnesses-newborn-health-screening-tests-for) [ ![A doctor holding a medical device showcasing regenerative medicine.](https://assets.americordblood.com/transforms/blogs/6178/regenerative-medicine-doctor-stem-cells-americord_41a4f2ed037c5ad51696884668d44cc6.png) ](https://www.americordblood.com/articles/regenerative-medicine-a-pathway-to-a-healthier-future) [### Regenerative Medicine: A Pathway to a Healthier Future ](https://www.americordblood.com/articles/regenerative-medicine-a-pathway-to-a-healthier-future)What is regenerative medicine and how does it alter the future of medical treatments? Let's discuss how regenerative medicine will lead to a healthier future. [ Read More ](https://www.americordblood.com/articles/regenerative-medicine-a-pathway-to-a-healthier-future)