Apgar score

Score achieved on a system devised to evaluate the well-being of a baby immediately after birth. Five parameters are measured: heart rate, skin colour, breathing, response to stimulus, and muscle tone. A maximum of two points is awarded for each observation. A newborn with an Apgar score of ten is said to be perfectly fit and robust. A baby scoring less than seven requires resuscitation and support; the test is repeated at intervals to monitor progress.

The Apgar system was devised more than 40 years ago and is used internationally. It is named after its inventor, the US physician Virginia Apgar (1909–1974).