Background: Perinatal asphyxia is a clinical or biochemical evidence of lack of oxygen or excess of carbon dioxide in the body, due to failure of efficient respiration at birth with resultant hypoxia and acidemia. It is also of medicolegal importance to know the exact cause of fetal distress whether it is antepartum or intrapartum. This study was undertaken to evaluate the use of cord blood serum erythropoietin (S. Epo) and blood gas analysis as a predictor to differentiate between antepartum and intrapartum asphyxia.