Alpha1-fetoprotein

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Assay

Alpha-fetoprotein

Key Words

AFP

Specimen Collection

Serum (brown) Plasma (orange)

Turnaround Time

72hrs

Test Indications

AFP is an albumin like glycoprotein. AFP is used as a tumour marker for germ cell/testicular tumours and hepatocellular carcinomas.

Germ cell/testicular tumours – used in diagnosis, prognosis, detecting recurrence and monitoring treatment.

Hepatocellular carcinoma – used in screening at risk groups (patients with chronic hepatitis B/C or cirrhosis, in conjunction with ultrasonography), diagnosis (in conjunction with liver imaging a-fetoprotein levels of >200mg/L are virtually diagnostic in patients with hypervascular lesions), prognosis, detecting recurrence and monitoring treatment.

Also raised in other cancers (colorectal, gastric, lung, pulmonary) and some benign conditions (liver regeneration).

Limitations/Interferences

No known common methodological interferences.

Reference Range

Less than 7 ng/mL

Analytical Error

4.5%

Reference Change Value

36.6%

Minimum retesting interval

Requests made within 14 days of a previous result on a patient are intervened