APGAR score provides a quick assessment of the newborn and is performed at what times?

• A. Assesses five criteria: heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, reflex irritability, color; performed at 1 and 5 minutes.
• B. Assesses five criteria: weight, length, head circumference, age, sex; performed at 0 and 10 minutes.
• C. Assesses three criteria: breathing, crying, color; performed at 2 and 4 minutes.
• D. Assesses four criteria: hydration, temperature, reflexes, tone; performed at 1 and 3 minutes.

Answer: (B)

APGAR is a quick method to gauge how well a newborn is adapting to life outside the womb. It uses five components: heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, reflex irritability, and color. Each component is scored 0, 1, or 2, for a total of 0 to 10. The assessment is done at 1 minute after birth to assess initial transition and again at 5 minutes to see how things are progressing. If the 5-minute score is low, a 10-minute assessment may be done to monitor further, but the standard timing is 1 and 5 minutes. The description that lists five criteria and specifies 1 and 5 minutes is the best fit. Descriptions mentioning growth measurements (weight, length, head circumference, age, sex) or omitting five criteria, or citing 0 and 10 minutes, do not reflect the APGAR scoring method.