AFP test results can be abnormal, even when nothing is wrong with the baby. Author: Healthwise Staff. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.
Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. The Health Encyclopedia contains general health information. Not all treatments or services described are covered benefits for Kaiser Permanente members or offered as services by Kaiser Permanente.
For a list of covered benefits, please refer to your Evidence of Coverage or Summary Plan Description. For recommended treatments, please consult with your health care provider. We are unable to switch you to this area of care. Skip Navigation. Men, nonpregnant women, and children In men, nonpregnant women, and children, AFP in the blood can mean that certain types of cancer—especially cancer of the testicles , ovaries , stomach, pancreas , or liver—are present.
Health Tools Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health. Decision Points focus on key medical care decisions that are important to many health problems. Check the developing baby fetus of a pregnant woman for Down syndrome. Find certain cancers, especially cancer of the testicles, ovaries, or liver.
Check how well treatment for cancer is working. How To Prepare You do not need to do anything before you have this test. This test uses sound waves to take a picture of the fetus. Ultrasound can help determine the gestational age of the fetus and show if a woman is carrying twins. If either of these factors accounts for the abnormal AFP reading, no further testing is needed.
Ultrasound also can detect some serious birth defects. If the ultrasound examination does not provide an explanation for an abnormal MSAFP reading, the health care provider may suggest amniocentesis, a test during which the doctor inserts a thin needle through the abdominal wall and into the uterus to withdraw a few teaspoons of amniotic fluid.
Fetal cells contained in the amniotic fluid will be tested for Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities, and the level of AFP in the amniotic fluid will be measured. When the amniotic fluid level of AFP is elevated and all other causes have been ruled out, it is very likely that the fetus has a neural tube defect.
This procedure can quite accurately detect or rule out serious neural tube defects, but is generally available only at major medical centers. It also may help predict the severity of neural tube defects. For the great majority of women, MSAFP screening provides reassurance that their fetus does not appear to have certain serious birth defects. Test results also can help a woman manage her pregnancy more effectively. For example, finding the correct gestational age helps determine whether the fetus is growing at a normal rate.
And detecting a multiple pregnancy allows for special care. How can antibiotics work against cancer? We take a look at anthracycline drugs. Experts say new blood tests may dramatically change cancer diagnostics, although more research is needed. The nonprofit, cloud-based network provides games, movies, STEM education, and other programs for children who are isolated with serious illnesses. Scientists are studying immunotherapies and other cancer treatments to develop effective therapies with less intense side effects.
Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Alpha-Fetoprotein Test. Medically reviewed by Daniel Murrell, M. Why do I need an alpha-fetoprotein test? What risks are associated with an alpha-fetoprotein test?
How is an alpha-fetoprotein test performed? What do the test results mean? Triple Marker Screen Test. It is never possible to be sure that your baby is going to be normal. It can also lead to the diagnosis of about eight out of every 10 cases of Down syndrome and trisomy Remember, a screening test can never completely rule out the possibility of a neural tube defect, Down syndrome, or trisomy There are also many other birth defects that cannot be identified with this test.
The test may give you and your doctor important information about your pregnancy and your developing baby. Twins may be discovered or your expected date of delivery may be corrected so that your prenatal care and visits can be adjusted accordingly. If your baby is found to have a serious birth defect, you can receive professional counseling about how your child's physical and mental development may be affected. The individual capabilities and potential of children with birth defects are considerations that you may wish to discuss with your counselor or with other health care providers.
Further information and support are available through groups such as your local Down Syndrome Society and Spina Bifida Association. Find A Provider. In The News Media Relations. Site Search. What are neural tube defects? What is Down syndrome? What is trisomy 18? What is ultrasound and what will it show? What is amniocentesis and what will it show? These are: Alpha-fetoprotein AFP. Unconjugated oestriol uE3. Inhibin A inhibin. Human chorionic gonadotropin hCG. The test is performed between 15 and 22 weeks of pregnancy.
Women with a mid-pregnancy risk of one in or greater are interpreted as screen positive and offered further tests.
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