Alpha-Fetoprotein
Label Mnemonic: AFPCSF
Epic code: LAB2568
Downtime form: A-1a Doctor/Provider Orders - Pathology Core and Specialty Care Nursery
Commercial Mailout Laboratory
6240-8 RCP
356-8593
Specimen(s):
CSF
Collection Medium:
CSF collection kit
Minimum:
Required Sample: 1 mL CSF
Absolute Minimum: 0.5 mL CSF
Delivery Instructions:
Submit specimen to laboratory as soon as possible after collection.
Turn Around Time:
3 days upon receipt at reference laboratory
Reference Range:
<1.5 ng/mL
Values for alpha-fetoprotein in cerebrospinal fluid have not been formally established for newborns and infants. The available literature indicates that by 2 months of age, levels comparable to adults should be reached.
Interpretive Data:
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) concentrations that exceed the upper end of normal are consistent with the presence of central nervous system germinoma, meningeal carcinomatosis, or metastatic nonseminomatous testicular cancer. AFP is not elevated in the presence of a craniopharyngioma.
Comments:
Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpfulAn adjunct in the diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) germinomas and meningeal carcinomatosis

Evaluating germ-cell tumors, including testicular cancer metastatic to the CNS in conjunction with beta-human chorionic gonadotropin measurement

An adjunct in distinguishing between suprasellar dysgerminomas and craniopharyngiomas

A supplement to cerebrospinal fluid cytologic analysis
Methodology:
Immunoenzymatic Assay
CPT Code:
86316