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Test Code AFPTM or LAB559 Alpha Fetoprotein Tumor Marker, Serum or Plasma

Important Note

Patient Preparation: For 12 hours before this test do not take multivitamins or dietary supplements containing biotin (vitamin B7), which is commonly found in hair, skin, and nail supplements and multivitamins.   Biotin can interfere with many immunoassay tests.

Specimen Requirements

Container Type:

Optimal: Gold or Mint*

*For STAT requests

Acceptable: Red or Green
Optimal Collection Volume: 

4.5mL; full tube
Minimum Volume:
  • Adults: 1 mL whole blood
  • Neonates: 1 microtainer (400-600 uL)
Collection Instructions:

Gently invert the sample 5-6 times after collection.
Specimen Transport:

Refrigerate
Processing Instructions: 

1. If serum, allow the specimen to clot for 30 minutes.

2. Centrifuge specimen within 2 hours of collection.

3. After centrifugation, specimen tubes without a gel barrier should have the serum or plasma aliquoted to a false bottom container.

4. Keep serum or plasma refrigerated until testing can be performed.

Specimen Stability

Specimen Type Temperature Time

Serum*

Refrigerated

14 days

Room Temperature

5 days

Frozen

3 months

*Note: Heparinized plasma in gel separator tubes is less stable than serum and is only suitable for add-on testing up to 2 days following sample collection.

Specimen Rejection Criteria

Hemolysis

Mild OK; Moderate OK; Gross Reject

Lipemia

Mild OK; Moderate OK; Gross Reject

Icterus

Mild OK; Moderate OK; Gross Reject

Other

Quantity not sufficient

Useful For

Elevations of AFP have been found to occur in certain malignant diseases, most notably non-seminomatous testicular cancer, primary hepatocellular carcinoma, and in diseases such as ataxia telangiectasia, hereditary tyrosinemia, teratocarcinoma and in benign hepatic conditions such as acute viral hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis, and cirrhosis.

Methodology

Roche Cobas - Chemiluminescent assay

 

Note: Values from different methods may give different results and cannot be used interchangeably.

Reference Ranges

< 8.4 ng/mL

Interpretive

AFP - Clinical & Interpretive: Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) Tumor Marker, Serum (mayocliniclabs.com)

Day(s) Performed

24/7

Expected TAT

Same day

Performing Laboratory

Bronson Laboratory, Chemistry - Kalamazoo

Sample Retention Time

7 days

CPT Code

82105

LOINC Code

53962-7