Synonyms

   Total AFP

Clinical Significance

   Follow-up management of patients undergoing cancer therapy, especially for testicular and ovarian tumors and for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Specimen

   Serum

Stability

   Refrigerated (preferred) : 7 days

   Frozen : 90 days

Reference Range

   < 5.8 IU/ml

Interpretation

   Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels may be elevated in association with a variety of malignancies or benign diseases.

   Failure of the AFP value to return to normal by approximately one month after surgery suggests the presence of residual tumor.

   Elevation of AFP after remission suggests tumor recurrence; however, tumors originally producing AFP may recur without an increase in AFP.

Limitation

   This assay is intended only as an adjunct in the diagnosis and monitoring of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing tumors. The diagnosis should be confirmed by other tests or procedures.

   Higher values are found in newborns and pregnant women.