1016. α-fetoprotein (AFP) - prenatal diagnostics
Important information
*For pregnant women at 14 -19 weeks of pregnancy inclusive.
Description
Alpha-fetoprotein is a protein that is produced in the gastrointestinal tract and liver of the fetus. Its increase in the second trimester of pregnancy may indicate congenital anomalies.
The test is recommended for all pregnant women in case of suspicion of pathology of the development of the neural tube, urinary tract, anterior abdominal wall according to ultrasound.
Recommended for neural tube pathology, pathology of the spinal cord and brain, Down syndrome, esophageal atresia, as well as liver necrosis in the fetus.
The test is carried out both independently and in conjunction with tests for estriol and β-chorionic gonadotropin
When and who needs the test?
Prenatal diagnosis of pathology of fetal development:
- violation of the formation of the neural tube, anencephaly (a severe malformation in which the fetus is missing part of the brain), chromosomal abnormalities
- detection of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer)
- detection of testicular teratoblastoma (germinogenic nonseminoma)
- diagnosis of low-differential tumors
- diagnosis of metastases of tumors of various localizations in the liver
- evaluation of the effectiveness of the treatment of certain oncological diseases and monitoring their course
Biological material
- Venous blood
Preparing for a blood test
In order to exclude factors that may affect the test results, we recommend to follow the preparation rules:
- an important condition for laboratory tests is to take blood on an empty stomach.
- 6-12 hours before the test, you should avoid eating, drinking alcohol, smoking, and limit physical activity. Drinking...
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