Vanderbilt Pathology Laboratory Services
Test Directory
ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN (TUMOR) (TAF)
Department: CGMTest Synonym(s): TAF, AFP tumor marker
CPT Codes: 82105
Methodology: Immunoenzymatic
Reference Range: 0-13 days old: 5,000-105,000 ng/mL; 14-30 days old: 300-60,000 ng/mL; 1 mo old: 100-10,000 ng/mL; 2 mo old: 40-1,000 ng/mL; 3 mo old: 11-300 ng/mL; 4 mo old: 5-200 ng/mL; 5 mo old:0-90 ng/mL; 6-11 mo old: 0-97 ng/mL; 1 yr old: 0-41 ng/mL; 2 yrs old: 0-12 ng/mL; 3 yrs and up: 0-9.9 ng/mL
Tube Type: Red top tube
Specimen: Serum
Alternate Specimen: CSF
Pediatric Requirements: 2 microtainers
Volume: 2 mL serum
Minimum Volume: 0.7 mL serum
Temperature: See Special Instructions.
Reasons for Rejection: Incorrect tube or specimen type.
Days Performed: Daily
Times Performed: Continuous
Significance: AFP should be used in conjunction with other clinical and biochemical markers for the diagnosis and monitoring of testicular cancer. AFP may be used in conjunction with ultrasound in high risk patients to aid in the diagnosis and monitoring of hepatocellular carcinoma. AFP is not recommended for cancer screening in a general population. AFP may be elevated in other conditions including: hepatitis, drug induced hepatic damage, cirrhosis, gastrointestinal cancers, hereditary tyrosinemias and normal pregnancy. This assay is not intended for the prediction of neural tube defects in pregnant women. The serum AFP concentration alone does not provide absolute evidence of the presence of malignant disease.
Special Instructions: Deliver to lab immediately or centrifuge and separate serum and freeze at -20ºC immediately.
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