Bloodwork

AFP

An AFP test is a blood test that measures the level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in your blood when you are pregnant. The normal range is 0–15 ng/mL for adults, as ARUP Laboratories Test Directory publishes it.

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

26 published ranges, each from a named source
Normal
0–15 ng/mL
Ranges from ARUP Laboratories Test Directory.

All source ranges (26)

by lab, sex and age, as published ·
SourceSexAgeRange
American Board of Internal Medicine (Laboratory Test Reference Ranges) All all ages <10 ng/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory All all ages 0–15 ng/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory Female ≤ 13 d 5000–105000 ng/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory Female 14 d – 30 d 300–60000 ng/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory Female 30 d – 2 mo 100–10000 ng/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory Female 2 mo – 3 mo 40–1000 ng/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory Female 3 mo – 4 mo 11–300 ng/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory Female 4 mo – 5 mo 5–200 ng/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory Female 5 mo – 6 mo 0–90 ng/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory Female 6 mo – 11 mo 0–99 ng/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory Female 1 y 0–36 ng/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory Female 2 y 0–12 ng/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory Female 3 y – 6 y 0–5 ng/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory Female 7 y+ 0–9 ng/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory Male ≤ 13 d 5000–105000 ng/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory Male 14 d – 30 d 300–60000 ng/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory Male 30 d – 2 mo 100–10000 ng/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory Male 2 mo – 3 mo 40–1000 ng/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory Male 3 mo – 4 mo 11–300 ng/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory Male 4 mo – 5 mo 5–200 ng/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory Male 5 mo – 6 mo 0–90 ng/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory Male 6 mo – 11 mo 0–90 ng/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory Male 1 y 0–19 ng/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory Male 2 y 0–12 ng/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory Male 3 y – 6 y 0–5 ng/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory Male 7 y+ 0–9 ng/mL

What a high or low result can mean

LOINC2HPO, Monarch Initiative
A high result Elevated circulating alpha-fetoprotein concentration
A low result Decreased circulating alpha-fetoprotein concentration

This is reference information, not a diagnosis: only a clinician can interpret your result in context.

Sample
Serum or plasma · LOINC
Part of
Alpha-1-Fetoprotein panel · Second trimester quad maternal screen panel
Listed under
Down Syndrome · Neural Tube Defects · Spina Bifida
Code
LOINC 1834-1 · ng/mL
Also called
Alpha-1-Fetoprotein
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