Alpha

Definition

What is alpha-fetoprotein?

Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) is a protein produced by the liver and egg sac (yolk sac) in the fetus during pregnancy. After delivery, the level of AFP in the blood will decrease. AFP has no specific function in the adult body. In men, women (who are not pregnant), and children, AFP in the blood can indicate the presence of several types of cancer, especially cancer of the testicles, ovaries, stomach, pancreas, or liver. High levels of AFP can also be found in people with Hodgkin's disease, lymphoma, brain tumors, and kidney cell cancer.

When should I take alpha-fetoprotein?

The AFP test is done to:

examine fetal brain and bone defects (called neural tube defects) in a pregnant woman's body. It is estimated that as many as 2 out of every 1,000 births have neural tube defects. Birth defects resulting from damage to the neural tube system in the fetus are not related to maternal age. Mostly mothers with babies neural tube defects also do not have a history of this disorder
monitor the development of the fetus of mothers with Down syndrome
detects certain types of cancer, especially testicular, ovarian, or liver cancer. However, 5 out of 10 people with liver cancer do not have high AFP levels
evaluating the effectiveness of ongoing cancer treatments
detect liver cancer (called hepatoma) in people who have cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis B

Precautions & warnings

What should I know before taking alpha-fetoprotein?

Some other tests, such as an ultrasound test and an amniocentesis test, may be performed if the lab finds abnormal AFP levels in the body. If the ultrasound test fails to find the cause of the abnormal AFP, the doctor will perform an amniocentesis test. The amniocentesis test can measure the level of AFP in amniotic fluid. However, normal levels of AFP also do not guarantee a normal pregnancy or a healthy baby. Many mothers with normal levels of AFP in the amniotic fluid have abnormal levels of AFP in their blood. They tend to have a lower risk of having children with neural tube defects.

The level of AFP in the blood is often measured by a maternal serum triple or quadruple screening test.

Process

What should I do before taking alpha-fetoprotein?

There is no special preparation before undergoing this test. If you are pregnant, you will be weighed first because the range of test results will be determined based on your weight. The range of test results will also be adjusted according to your race, age, and how many weeks you are pregnant.

How is alpha-fetoprotein processed?

Your blood will be drawn as an AFP test sample. Blood draws are carried out in a diagnostic laboratory according to outpatient procedures. Usually, this procedure only takes a few minutes and is relatively painless. No special preparation is required before undergoing the AFP test.

What should I do after taking alpha-fetoprotein?

After the test, you can return home. Usually, the test results will come out in one to two weeks.

Explanation of the Test Results

What do my test results mean?

Normal:

The normal range for the Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) test may vary depending on which laboratory you choose. The ranges listed here are just an overview of the range of results in general.

Alpha-fetoprotein in the blood
Men and women (who are not pregnant):	0–40 nanograms per milliliter (ng / mL) or micrograms per liter (mcg / L) 2
Pregnant women (gestational age 15-18 weeks):	10-150 ng / mL or mcg / L3

The table above is a typical measurement for the results of this test. The normal range for the AFP test may vary depending on the laboratory you choose. Discuss with your doctor if you have any questions about your test results. An accurate estimate of the age of the pregnancy can support the test results in measuring the amount of AFP accurately. From the 14th week of pregnancy, the AFP count will gradually increase and will gradually decrease in the one to two months leading up to birth. The normal range for black women is generally higher than for white women. Meanwhile, the normal range for Asian women was slightly lower than for white women.

The normal range of AFP values for each woman will be adjusted based on age, weight and race. In addition, the age of the fetus or pregnancy and diabetes in the mother must also be considered. In essence, doctors and patients (especially women) need to adjust the range of normal AFP values when undergoing the AFP test.

Abnormal

The index goes up

In pregnant women, high levels of Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) indicate:

incorrect prediction of fetal age or pregnancy
women carrying twins
the baby has a neural tube defect
The baby's intestines or other abdominal organs are outside the body (called an omphalocele or abdominal wall defect). surgery after birth will be required
the baby died

In men / women (who are not pregnant), High levels of Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) indicate: