ALPHA FETO PROTEIN (AFP) - SERUM

Alpha Feto Protein (AFP) - Serum is a blood test used to measure alpha-fetoprotein in serum. AFP is a protein produced in large amounts by the developing fetal liver. Its level normally becomes very low after infancy but may increase in adults with certain liver conditions or AFP-producing tumours.

In non-pregnant adults, AFP is primarily used as a tumour marker. It may support the evaluation and monitoring of hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatoblastoma, and certain non-seminomatous germ-cell tumours involving the testis or ovary. AFP must always be interpreted with clinical findings, imaging, and other laboratory investigations because an abnormal result does not independently confirm cancer.

Benefits of the Test

• Measures the concentration of AFP in serum.
• Supports evaluation of suspected AFP-producing tumours.
• Assists in monitoring hepatocellular carcinoma.
• Helps monitor certain testicular or ovarian germ-cell tumours.
• May help assess response to cancer treatment.
• Supports follow-up for possible recurrence after treatment.
• May be used with imaging when monitoring high-risk liver disease.
• Provides a quantitative result that can be compared over time.

Why Doctors Recommend This Test

Doctors may recommend this test for individuals with chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, a liver mass, unexplained jaundice, abdominal swelling, persistent upper-abdominal discomfort, or imaging findings requiring further evaluation. It may also be requested for patients with suspected or confirmed non-seminomatous germ-cell tumours or for monitoring treatment and recurrence of an AFP-producing cancer.

Preparation Before Test

• No fasting or special preparation is generally required.
• A blood sample is collected and processed to obtain serum.
• Inform your doctor if you are pregnant because AFP naturally increases during pregnancy.
• Provide details about hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver disease, or previous cancer treatment.
• Share previous AFP results and imaging reports when available.
• Tell your doctor about all medicines, supplements, and current medical conditions.
• Follow any additional instructions provided for accompanying blood tests or scans.

Normal Reporting Time

The Alpha Feto Protein (AFP) - Serum test is generally processed within the routine immunoassay or biochemistry workflow and may be reported on the same day or the next working day, depending on sample receipt, laboratory schedules, associated tests, and quality review. Please confirm the expected reporting time with Focus Diagnostics.

Who Should Take This Test?

This test may be recommended for:

• Individuals with chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
• Patients with cirrhosis who require liver surveillance.
• People with a suspicious liver mass or abnormal liver imaging.
• Patients with suspected hepatocellular carcinoma.
• Individuals with suspected non-seminomatous germ-cell tumours.
• Patients receiving treatment for an AFP-producing tumour.
• Cancer survivors undergoing follow-up for possible recurrence.
• Individuals advised to undergo AFP testing by an oncologist, hepatologist, or other physician.

Detailed Information

Alpha-fetoprotein is a glycoprotein produced mainly by the fetal liver and yolk sac during development. AFP is naturally high in newborns and gradually decreases after birth. In most healthy non-pregnant adults, only a small amount is present in the blood.

AFP may increase in hepatocellular carcinoma, which is the most common primary liver cancer. It may also be elevated in hepatoblastoma and certain germ-cell tumours, particularly yolk-sac tumours and embryonal carcinoma. Pure seminoma and dysgerminoma generally do not produce AFP.

An elevated AFP level does not always indicate cancer. Non-cancerous liver conditions such as chronic viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, and active liver-cell injury may also increase AFP. Pregnancy and infancy are normal physiological causes of elevated levels.

Not every liver or germ-cell tumour produces AFP. A normal result therefore cannot completely exclude cancer. AFP should not be used as the only investigation to screen for or diagnose malignancy.

When AFP is used for patients at increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, it is interpreted with liver ultrasound or other imaging such as CT or MRI. Additional markers, including AFP-L3 percentage or PIVKA-II, may be recommended in selected clinical situations.

AFP measurements may be useful for monitoring a tumour that produced elevated AFP before treatment. Falling levels may support a response to treatment, while persistent or increasing levels may require evaluation for remaining, progressive, or recurrent disease. Changes should be assessed over time rather than from one isolated result.

AFP results obtained using different laboratory methods may not be directly interchangeable. Follow-up measurements are preferably performed using a consistent method and interpreted according to the reference information on each report.

AFP testing during pregnancy has a different clinical purpose. Maternal serum AFP, usually assessed during a defined stage of pregnancy and often as part of a prenatal screening panel, estimates the risk of certain fetal conditions. A routine AFP tumour-marker result should not be interpreted as a prenatal screening result.

Doctors interpret AFP together with age, pregnancy status, symptoms, liver-function results, viral-hepatitis status, tumour history, imaging findings, and other markers. Additional investigations are required before making a diagnosis.

At Focus Diagnostics, Alpha Feto Protein testing is performed using validated immunoassay methodologies and established quality-control procedures to provide accurate and clinically meaningful results.