CHEMISTRY
PAGE EXPIRES: June 2000
SYNONYMS: AFP; Tumor Marker AFP
COMPONENT TESTS: None (single test)
SCHEDULE: Reference Lab turnaround time: 7 working days
SPECIMEN AND COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS:
CAUSES FOR REJECTION: Improperly labeled specimen; hemolyzed specimen
STORAGE AND SHIPPING: Freeze immediately and ship frozen
USES: Serum used for evaluation of hepatocellular, pancreatic, and gastrointestinal carcinomas, and germ cell tumors of the testis or ovary, retroperitoneum, and mediastinum. May be useful in differentiating neonatal hepatitis from biliary atresia in newborns.
NORMAL VALUES: < 15 ng/mL (for males and non-pregnant females)
METHOD: Microparticle Enzyme Immunoassay (MEIA)
DESCRIPTION AND COMMENTS: Limitations. Serum AFP measurement is a valuable tool in the management of the nonseminomatous testicular cancer patient when used in conjunction with information available from clinical evaluation and other diagnostic procedures. Increased serum AFP concentrations have also been observed in ataxia telangiectasia, teratocarcinoma, gastrointestinal tract cancers with and without liver metastases and in benign hepatic conditions such as acute viral hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis, and cirrhosis.