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ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN, Maternal Serum (087-3750, 087-3744, 087-0041)
Test Mnemonic:

AFP-MS1 

Specimen Requirements:
Collection:

:  7 mL of blood in SST (gold top) tube or red stoppered tube. When screening for neural tube defect and Down Syndrome, a 'Patient Information Form for AFP Testing' must be completed - includes age, race, weight, insulin dependence, and gestation age.

Minimum Volume:

3 mL

Storage/Transport:

 

Delivered to Sample Management within 2 hours of collection.

Specimen Preparation:

Allow specimen to clot completely at room temperature. Centrifuge to separate serum from cells within 2 hours of collection. Transfer serum from collection tube to labeled plastic transport tube. 

Stability:

Store samples tightly stoppered at room temperature   for no longer than eight hours;  Refrigerated  for 48 hours; Freeze at -20°C or colder (avoid repeated freeze/thaw cycles).

Causes for Rejection:

Incomplete and/or incorrect sample identification, improper storage/transport, and gross hemolysis or lipemia.            

Reference Range:

By report (reports may vary based on instrumentation, patient age and sex).

Turnaround Time:

  M-F: within 24 hours

Methodology:

Immunoenzymatic

Performed:

Monday – Friday:  7 am – 3:30 pm

Lab:

Special Chemistry

Clinical Indication:

Screening test for neural tube defects (anencephaly, spina bifida) and Down Syndrome of the fetus in pregnant women between 14 and 21 weeks gestation. For use as a tumor marker, see Alpha-Fetoprotein, serum.   

Patient Preparation :

Patient must be in the 2nd Trimester of pregnancy (within 15 weeks, 0 days and 20weeks, 6 days).

 

Patient must be in the 2nd Trimester of pregnancy (within 15 weeks, 0 days and 20weeks, 6 days).

CPT 4 Code:

82105, 84702, 82677

Note:

Blood should be drawn before amniocentesis. Not available on Week-ends

When ordering tests for which Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement will be sought, physicians should only order tests that are medically necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of the patient. Components of the organ or disease panels may be ordered individually. The diagnostic information must substantiate all tests ordered and must be in the form of an ICD-10 code or its verbal equivalent.
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