Alpha Fetoprotein, CSF (Tumor Marker)




Test Mnemonic

AFPCSF

CPT Codes

  • 86316 - QTY (1)

LOINC ®

1833-3

Aliases

  • AFP

Includes

  • Alpha Fetoprotein (CSF)

Performing Laboratory

ARUP


Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
0.5 mLCerebrospinal fluid (CSF)Sterile container Refrigerated 

Minimum Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
0.2 mL     

Stability

Environmental Condition Description
Ambient72 hours
Refrigerated2 weeks
Frozen1 year

Days Performed

Sun - Sat

Turnaround Time

2 - 3 days

Methodology

Name Description
Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (CLIA) 

Reference Range

AFP (CSF)
Sex Age From Age To Type Range Range Unit
 18 Years99 YearsNormal0 - 1ng/mL

Special Info

Specimens other than CSF will be rejected. This test is New York DOH approved.

Clinical Info

The Beckman Coulter Access DXI AFP method is used. Results obtained with different assay methods or kits cannot be used interchangeably. AFP is a valuable aid in the management of nonseminomatous testicular cancer patients, when used in conjunction with information available from the clinical evaluation and other diagnostic procedures. Increased AFP concentrations have also been observed in ataxia telangiectasia, hereditary tyrosinemia, primary hepatocellular carcinoma, teratocarcinoma, gastrointestinal tract cancers with and without liver metastases, and in benign hepatic conditions such as acute viral hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis, and cirrhosis. The result cannot be interpreted as absolute evidence of the presence or absence of malignant disease. The result is not interpretable as a tumor marker in pregnant females.