TEST DIRECTORY | MIDx Labs

ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN (AFP)

Tumor marker for hepatocellular carcinoma/germ cell tumors; also used in prenatal screening.

LIS TEST CODE: AFP

CPT CODE: 82105

ALIASES: AFP, Fetoprotein, Alpha, Tumor Marker

METHODOLOGY: Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay (CMIA)

SPECIMEN:

- Type: Serum

- Container: Gold Top (SST) Vacutainer

- Minimum Volume Required: 1 mL

- Storage/Handling: Allow 30 minutes for blood to clot, then centrifuge specimen at 3500 RPM for 10 minutes. Maintain specimen at room temperature, in the refrigerator, or in the freezer until testing can be performed.

NOTE: If freezing is required to preserve stability, transfer serum into a separate plastic screw-cap transport container.

- Stability:

Room Temperature (20-25 °C): 3 days

Refrigerated (2-8 °C): 7 days

Frozen (-20 °C or colder): 1 year; avoid more than 5 freeze/thaw cycles.

- Turnaround Time: 24 - 48 hours from receipt.

Special Instructions: N/A

REJECTION REASONS: QNS, Gross Hemolysis, Gross Lipemia, Contamination, Stability Violation, Expired Container, Incorrect Container

REFERENCE RANGES:

Males & Females (ng/mL)

>= 1 year of age: < 8.4

Reference values are for nonpregnant subjects only; fetal production of alpha-fetoprotein elevates values in pregnant women. Range for newborns is not available, but concentrations over 100,000 ng/mL have been reported in normal newborns, and the values rapidly decline in the first 6 months of life. (Wu JT, Book L, Sudar K. Serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP) levels in normal infants. Pediatr Res. 1981;15(1):50-52)