The Apgar test grades infants in five areas, including skin tone. Babies of color score lower, and may be subjected to unnecessary treatment. By Roni Caryn Rabin Shortly after they’re born ...

To score highly, their skin must be ‘pink all over’. But he NHS Race and Health Observatory says the test, first developed in 1952, is ‘not fit for purpose’ for ethnic minority babies.

After that, they felt reassured. Perhaps it did work that way in that hospital, but it’s more likely that I underperformed on the Appearance test. Appearance refers to overall skin tone of the baby.

The Apgar test - created in 1952 by obstetric anaesthetist Virginia Apgar - is conducted in the first 10 minutes after birth. One of the categories under which babies are assessed is their appearance.