Alpha FetoProtein (AFP) Fluid Test Cost & Procedure

The liver of the newborn regularly produces the protein known as AFP. It is discovered in the fluid encircling the unborn child in the womb (amniotic fluid). The mother's blood is exposed to AFP once it crosses the placenta.

What does an elevated AFP level in amniotic fluid mean?

Your kid may be more likely to have a neural tube defect if your AFP levels are higher than usual: Spina bifida is a disorder in which the spinal column's bones fail to completely enclose a portion of the spinal cord.

A blood test called an AFP tumor marker checks the amount of AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) in a sample of your blood. Typically, it is used to confirm a cancer diagnosis and assess how effectively a treatment is functioning. The liver produces AFP as its cells divide and expand to produce new ones.

What AFP concentration denotes cancer?

Nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) are used to measure AFP, with normal values being fewer than 20 ng/mL. A liver tumor or another cancer may be indicated by levels greater than 400 ng/mL. Elevated AFP levels may be a sign of liver, ovarian, or testicular cancer, although this isn't always the case.

What is the pregnancy AFP normal range?

During pregnancy, the level of AFP in the mother's serum increases from 0.2 ng/mL in non-pregnancy to roughly 250 ng/mL at 32 weeks of gestation.

What happens if a positive AFP test results?

What does a screen-positive AFP PLUS test result mean? A positive AFP PLUS test places you in a higher risk category for giving birth to a child who has a chromosomal or neural tube problem. However, it does not demonstrate on its own that the pregnancy is flawed in any way.

What is the average AFP level in men?

The levels in adults are still considered normal at 2-4 ng/ml [10]. About two-thirds of individuals with germ cell cancers including yolk sac elements generate AFP (embryonal carcinomas and endodermal sinus tumors).

An AFP level of 6 ng/ml was found to be linked with the emergence of HCC in HCV patients with cirrhosis in the multivariate analysis. When combined with USG, AFP is utilized as a serological HCC marker for HCC screening (17,18).

Can fatty liver lead to an increased AFP?

In recent investigations, the potential link between AFP and FLD has been investigated. Babali et al.'s[10] findings indicating patients with fatty liver had considerably higher blood AFP levels, with a positive correlation between those levels and the severity of hepatic steatosis, were reported.

A high AFP level - cancer?

Adults should have an AFP level of 0 ng/mL to 40 ng/mL. Greater than 400 ng/mL of AFP in your blood could be an indication of liver tumors. High AFP levels could be an indicator of various cancers such as Hodgkin's disease, lymphoma, or renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer).