Only databases and new-type queries can be used for A/B testing.

You can create a query that includes a contact list that contains your A/B test contacts, here's how:

1. After you create a contact list, set it up by using the following criteria in a query:
   • Go to Profile > Contact List.
   • Specify Is in Contact List and select the contact list that you want to use in the query.
   • To include multiple contact lists in the A/B split test, change the AND to OR for each new set of criteria.
2. In the email template, select the query as the contact source for your A/B split test email.
3. Save the email and click On to Send to go to the send email draft.

When you use new queries for A/B testing, the parent database from which the query was made must use the org default VMTA.

To ensure that the parent database is using the default VMTA, complete the following steps.

1. Select the database that you used to make the query, which is called the parent database.
2. Click Settings.
3. Make sure that the VMTA Name is set to Use Parent Contact Source VMTA.

When you choose an email for an A/B test, the system creates queries of the same name that are used to send all emails, including the winning subject line and from name.

When you schedule an A/B test, contact lists are created at the scheduled time. If the contact source you used is a query, the query is run and the contact lists are created at the scheduled time, not at send time.