Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) Lab Values

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a protein produced in the liver of a developing fetus.
AFP crosses the placenta and into the pregnant woman’s blood.
Level of AFP in pregnant women during the second trimester of pregnancy.
Values outside normal limits may be sign of a birth defect or other condition

Indications:

The American Pregnancy Association recommends that all pregnant women should be evaluated with an AFP test during their second trimester of pregnancy. Sometime between the 15th and 20th week of pregnancy.

The test may be especially recommended to those who:

Have a family history of birth defects
Are 35 years or older
Have diabetes

Normal Therapeutic Values:

AFP –

During pregnancy

Levels rise from week 14 to 32 weeks during gestation
Between 15 and 20 weeks gestation
10-150 ng/ml

Men and non-pregnant women

0-40 ng/ml

Collection:

Plain red tube
Serum separator

What would cause increased levels?

Increased:

Neural tube defect
- Spina bifida- a defect in bone development of the spinal column, where the bones don’t form around the spinal cord
- Anencephaly- improper brain development

What would cause decreased levels?

DECREASED:

Potential genetic disorder
- Down syndrome
  - Condition that causes intellectual and developmental issues

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Transcript

Hey there, Abby from nursing.com here. In this lesson, we’re going to discuss a lab value called Alpha-fetoprotein. It’s abbreviated as AFP. We’ll talk about the normal value and also some clinical presentations or indications for why it might be increased or decreased. Let’s get started.

Alpha-fetoprotein is a lab that measures the level of AFP in the blood. AFP is produced in the yolk SAC and the fetal liver. So, during gestation, this lab is used to monitor fetal development and typically drawn during the second trimester of pregnancy. Some clinical indications or some presentations of what we might see for this lab value to be drawn, is it has to be or recommended to be in the second trimester pregnancy. Uh, it’s recommended if someone that is pregnant has a family history of birth effects. If they’re 35 years or older, which is considered a high risk pregnancy, or someone that has diabetes. Normal therapeutic values, particularly during pregnancy, the levels rise between week 14 and 32, and then it’s tested between 15 and 20 weeks gestation. That’s the recommendation. So, between 10 and 150 nanograms per milliliter is the normal value for men and non-pregnant women.

The normal value is zero to 40 nanograms per milliliter. This lab is collected in a plain red tube, or it can also be in a serum separator. An increased lab value indicates a neural tube defect. Now, remember this lab is being drawn in the second trimester of pregnancy. So, this could be a very sensitive topic, right? So, if it indicates a neural tube defect, that could mean spina bifida or anencephaly.. This is a picture of what spina bifida looks like. What happens is, the bones don’t actually form around the spinal cord and contain it. Therefore it’s a defect in development. And then, anencephaly is a condition that leads to improper brain development, so pretty serious side effects. A decreased lab value can lead to potential genetic disorders like down syndrome or trisomy 21 like this little cutie right here.

Our linchpins for this lesson are that alpha-fetoprotein monitors fetal development. It’s drawn during the second trimester between 15 and 20 weeks. A normal value for a pregnant woman is between 10 and 150 nanograms per milliliter in reference to this lab. That’s most often when you’ll see it is in reference to pregnancy. An increase in the lab value detects neural tube defects, and a decreased lab value detects genetic disorders or the possibility therein.

Now, you’ve all done great in this lesson and this wraps it up. Remember, we love you guys. We know you can do this, so go out and be your best self today and as always, happy nursing!