What is alpha fetoprotein level?

AFP stands for alpha-fetoprotein. It is a protein made in the liver of a developing baby. AFP levels are usually high when a baby is born, but fall to very low levels by the age of 1. Healthy adults should have very low levels of AFP. An AFP tumor marker test is a blood test that measures the levels of AFP in adults.

What is AFP positive?

A positive AFP PLUS test means that you are in a higher likelihood group for having a baby with a neural tube defect or a chromosome abnormality. However, it does not prove by itself that there is anything wrong with the pregnancy.

What is AFP tumor marker mean?

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is used as a tumor marker to help detect and diagnose cancers of the liver, testicles, and ovaries.

Can fatty liver cause elevated AFP?

The presence of hepatic inflammation and/or fibrosis may be the underlying cause of increased serum AFP levels in patients with severe fatty liver. Necrosis or active regeneration may also play a role in these patients.

What is normal tumor marker range?

Normal range: < 2.5 ng/ml. Normal range may vary somewhat depending on the brand of assay used. Levels > 10 ng/ml suggest extensive disease and levels > 20 ng/ml suggest metastatic disease.

What does AFP check for?

An alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) blood test checks the level of AFP in a pregnant woman’s blood. AFP is a substance made in the liver of an unborn baby (fetus). The amount of AFP in the blood of a pregnant woman can help see whether the baby may have such problems as spina bifida and anencephaly.

What is normal tumor marker level?

How accurate is AFP test?

The test has a false positive rate of 5 percent. This means that 5 percent of the time, the test is positive but the baby does NOT have an open spine.

What causes raised AFP?

Increased AFP can be caused by liver cancer, germ cell tumour of the testis or less commonly other cancers (for example ovary, stomach, bowel, lung, breast, lymphoma). Slightly increased levels of AFP are common in patients who have chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis and do not indicate the presence of cancer.

What are normal AFP levels?

Several assays (tests) for measuring AFP in the blood (serum) are available to laboratories. Generally, normal levels of AFP are below 10 ng/ml. People with various types of acute and chronic liver diseases without documentable liver cancer can have mild or even moderate elevations of AFP,…

What does AFP test for?

The alpha fetoprotein test (AFP) is a blood test performed to measure, diagnose, or monitor fetal distress or fetal abnormalities. It can also detect some liver disorders and some cancers in adults.

What is an alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) tumor marker test?

An AFP, or alpha-fetoprotein, tumor marker test—one of many different types of tumor marker tests—can help detect and screen for certain kinds of cancer, including liver cancers or germ cell tumors. AFP is a protein that is typically produced by the fetal liver and yolk sac.

What is alpha fetoprotein level? AFP stands for alpha-fetoprotein. It is a protein made in the liver of a developing baby. AFP levels are usually high when a baby is born, but fall to very low levels by the age of 1. Healthy adults should have very low levels of AFP. An AFP tumor marker…