How to Cite This Chapter: Don-Wauchope A, Chetty VT, Ivica J, Kavsak P, Khan WI, Lafreniere M, Nouri K, Solnica B. alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP). McMaster Textbook of Internal Medicine. Kraków: Medycyna Praktyczna. https://empendium.com/mcmtextbook/chapter/B31.1269.3.7.2. Accessed December 05, 2024.
Last Updated: May 9, 2022
Last Reviewed: May 9, 2022
Chapter Information
McMaster Textbook of Internal Medicine Editorial Offices
Editorial Office (Canada)
Authors: Andrew Don-Wauchope, Vasudhevan T. Chetty, Joško Ivica, Peter Kavsak, Waliul I. Khan, Matthew Lafreniere, Kazem Nouri
Editorial Office (Poland)
Authors: Bogdan Solnica
For a brief introduction and guide to abbreviations, see Laboratory Tests: General Remarks.
Analyte [material]
alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) [S/P]
Reference range, target level, or decision threshold
<10 microg/L!!!
Reference intervals are different for infants.
Interpretation of results
↑ Hepatocellular carcinoma, nonseminomatous germ cell tumors, cholangiocarcinomas, hepatoblastoma, cirrhosis, viral hepatitis
Used to screen for open neural tube defect in pregnancy.