AFP
(Alpha-fetoprotein)
Material: | 1 ml serum (stability in the serum at 4°C – 8°C: 7 days) 1 ml lithium heparin plasma, EDTA-plasma |
Methods: | Ligandenassays → Chemilumineszenz Mikropartikel Immunoassay (CMIA) | Reference range | Outside of pregnancies and in men: < 10 µg/l In pregnancy: The multiple of the median (MoM) value in relation to the week of pregnancy is given Children: Please refer to findings report |
Indication | Differential diagnosis and monitoring of hepatocellular carcinoma and germ cell tumors, screening of risk groups for carcinomatous degeneration (such as patients with chronic virus hepatitis), pregnancy screening |
Please note | AFP in pregnancy: ↑ neural tube defect, ↑ anencephaly, ↑ multiple pregnancy, ↑ intrauterine fetal death, ↑ parvovirus B19-infection, ↓ trisomy 13, ↓ trisomy 18, ↓ trisomy 21 (Down syndrome, AFP alone only has a sensitivity of approximately 20 %). AFP is recommended as a screening test for all pregnant women. AFP as tumor marker: ↑ hepatocellular carcinoma, ↑ germ cell tumor (testicles, ovaries). On initial diagnosis of liver cell carcinoma, 90 % show increased AFP levels and 50 % show markedly increased (> 1000 µg/ml = liver carcinoma near enough confirmed) AFP levels. Regular AFP evaluations for patients with liver cirrhosis and HBs antigen carriers. Differential diagnosis: AFP is normal in cholangiocellular carcinoma and most liver metastases. In case of germ cell tumors, AFP and beta-HCG always have to be tested simultaneously, as they complement each other, depending on the histological differentiation of the tumor. There is irregular AFP increase, usually < 500 µg/ml in other tumors. Examples for benign illnesses with differing levels of AFP-increase are hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. In the fetal serum, AFP concentration reaches its maximum at the start of the 2nd trimester. The fetal AFP is passed with the fetal urine and via the fetal gastrointestinal tract into the amniotic fluid. From there it passes the placenta and into the mother’s serum and shows a typical pattern. |
Accredited | ja |
Please also refer to: | First Trimester Down screening |
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