Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) in Blood

AFP (Alpha-Fetoprotein) Test, MSAFP (Maternal Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein) Test

Why It Is Done

The AFP test is done to:

• Check the unborn baby of a pregnant woman for brain or spinal problems (called neural tube defects). Such defects occur in about 2 out of every 1,000 pregnancies. The chance of a neural tube defect in a baby is not related to the mother's age. Most women whose babies have neural tube defects have no family history of these problems. This test is done between the 15th and 22nd weeks of pregnancy.
• Check the unborn baby of a pregnant woman for Down syndrome. A low AFP level can find Down syndrome about 60% of the time. The chance of finding Down syndrome increases to about 80% when the AFP test is combined with the estriol and human chorionic gonadotropin test in the triple test.
• Find certain cancers, especially cancer of the testicles, ovaries, or liver. However, up to half of the people with liver cancer do not have high AFP levels.
• Check how well treatment for cancer is working.
• Check for liver cancer (called hepatoma) in people who have cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis B.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC	Last Updated: October 12, 2006
Medical Review:	Renée M. Crichlow, MD - Family Medicine Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Siobhan M. Dolan, MD, MPH - Reproductive Genetics Renee H. Martin, PhD - Medical Genetics
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