An AFP test is a blood test that measures the level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in your blood when you are pregnant. The test checks your baby's risk of having certain birth defects and genetic problems, but it does not diagnose any health conditions. The test is usually done between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.
An AFP blood test is used during pregnancy to check your baby's risk of birth defects and genetic disorders, such as neural tube defects or Down syndrome. This information helps you and your health care provider decide if you need to have other tests to learn more about your baby's health.
Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
Normal range
No published reference range from a named lab yet.
What an abnormal result can be associated with
- A high result
- Elevated circulating alpha-fetoprotein concentration
- A low result
- Decreased circulating alpha-fetoprotein concentration
Associations from LOINC2HPO (Human Phenotype Ontology). This is reference information, not a diagnosis — only a clinician can interpret your result in context.
Details
- Sample
- Serum or plasma · LOINC
- Listed under
- Down Syndrome · Neural Tube Defects · Spina Bifida
- Code
- LOINC 1834-1 · ng/mL
- Also known as
- Alpha-1-Fetoprotein, Alpha fetoprotein, Feto, Alphafetoprotein, Tumor marker