Alpha-Fetoprotein (Blood)

Does this check produce other names?

msAFP display

What is that this check?

If you’re pregnant, this check appears to be like for a fetal substance known as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in your blood.

AFP is a protein made by your fetus’ liver. The protein passes by way of the placenta and into your blood. The check helps discover out whether or not your fetus has greater than regular ranges of AFP.

Increased ranges of AFP might imply that your fetus has an abnormality equivalent to a neural tube defect. An instance is spina bifida. Neural tube defects are severe delivery defects during which the spinal twine and mind do not correctly develop. If a fetus has this defect, it should in all probability have a gap within the head, backbone, or abdomen wall that causes excessive ranges of AFP to journey into the mom’s blood.

Decrease ranges of AFP might imply that your fetus has Down syndrome. Down syndrome is an abnormality involving an additional chromosome (chromosome 21).

Why do I would like this check?

If you’re pregnant, your healthcare supplier will supply this check to have a look at AFP ranges in your blood and discover out your fetus’ well being. You could have this check throughout weeks 15 to twenty of your being pregnant. You could have this check to see whether or not your fetus has indicators of Down syndrome or different delivery defects.

What different checks may I’ve together with this check?

Your healthcare supplier can also order blood checks to assist make an correct prognosis. These checks embody:

Unconjugated estriol

Inhibin A

You could have the next checks in case your msAFP outcomes are optimistic:

Ultrasound

Amniocentesis, which appears to be like on the fluid round your fetus

Noninvasive prenatal screening, which is a blood check within the mom to test if the child might have a chromosome abnormality (Down syndrome, trisomy 13, trisomy 18, and so on.)

What do my check outcomes imply?

Check outcomes might fluctuate relying in your age, gender, well being historical past, and different issues. Your check outcomes could also be totally different relying on the lab used. They might not imply you will have an issue. Ask your healthcare supplier what your check outcomes imply for you.

Outcomes are given in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). Right here is the conventional vary:

AFP ranges sometimes rise till across the twelfth week of being pregnant. Then the degrees drop persistently till delivery.

In case your fetus has Down syndrome, substances like AFP and unconjugated estriol will possible be low. However hCG and inhibin A ranges will in all probability be excessive.

When you’ve got a optimistic check end result, it doesn’t imply that your fetus undoubtedly has a defect. Most pregnant moms who check optimistic are literally carrying a wholesome fetus. A optimistic check end result might imply extra testing is required, equivalent to an amniocentesis.

How is that this check carried out?

The check requires a blood pattern, which is drawn by way of a needle from a vein in your arm.

Does this check pose any dangers?

Taking a blood pattern with a needle carries dangers that embody bleeding, an infection, bruising, or feeling dizzy. When the needle pricks your arm, you might really feel a slight stinging sensation or ache. Afterward, the positioning could also be barely sore.

What may have an effect on my check outcomes?

When you’ve got just lately been given a screening check for embryonic teratocarcinoma or hepatoblastoma, a liver tumor, your AFP ranges could also be greater than regular.

How do I prepare for this check?

You needn’t put together for this check. However be certain your healthcare supplier is aware of about all medicines, herbs, nutritional vitamins, and dietary supplements you’re taking. This contains medicines that do not want a prescription and any unlawful medication you might use.