AFP ELISA (alpha-fetoprotein ELISA) from BIOSERV Diagnostics
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 69 kD with a carbohydrate part of 4%. The molecule consists of 590 amino acids in three domains and one N-glycosidic ligated carbohydrate chain. The amino acid sequence has a 39% homology to human albumin. The biological half-life of AFP in serum is less than 5 days.
With the BIOSERV AFP Serum ELISA human alpha-fetoprotein is detected in human serum.
This AFP test from BIOSERV is a ready-to-use kit.
To order the test please refer to the BIOSERV catalogue number BS - 90 - 21.
For further information please send us an e-mail: info@bioserv-diagnostics.com
EU registration number DE/CA80/IVD1770
Detailed information on the AFP ELISA from BIOSERV Diagnostics
The determination of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) plays an important role in pregnancy monitoring. In the first trimenon AFP is predominantly produced in the vitelline (yolk) sac, in the further course of the pregnancy it is produced in the fetal liver and in the fetal gastrointestinal tract. Normally the AFP reaches the amniotic fluid by the fetal urine and from there it reaches the maternal circulation by the placenta. If the spinal canal is incompletely closed as, for example, in the case of splitted (spina bifida) vertebral column, greater amounts of AFP may reach the amniotic fluid and rise the AFP titer in the maternal blood.
In women in the 15th to the 20th week of gestation the determination of AFP in serum is appropriate as a screening test for fetal neural tube defects. Low AFP titers in the maternal serum in this stage of the pregnancy are pointing to a chromosomal aberration in the fetus. The determination of AFP in the maternal serum is useful from the 14th week of the pregnancy.
In the blood of healthy adults only small amounts of AFP can be detected. A rise of the APF titer in serum may be pathognomonic for different clinical pictures, like, for example, a primary hepatic carcinoma or germ cell malignomes with participation of the vitelline sac or mixed tumours. For these tumours, AFP is the marker of first choice. Slighty increased titers of AFP are pathognomonic for an inflammation. If, during follow-up investigations, a continuous increase is stated a cancerous process is probable.
A not so high rise of the AFP titer in serum may be indicative for an acute or a chronic hepatitis. Together with the determination of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) the determination of AFP may be used for the follow-up of testicular cancer patients. The determination of AFP is not appropriate as a screening method for tumours.
Fields of application
– pregnancy monitoring
– screening for fetal neural tube defects
– screening for chromosomal aberrations in the fetus
– confirmation of an acute or chronic hepatitis
– confirmation of tumours, for example hepatic carcinoma
– follow-up of testicular cancer patients
Sample material: serum
Reference value ranges for the AFP ELISA from BIOSERV Diagnostics
Each laboratory should establish its own normal ranges based on patient population. The results provided below are based on randomly selected out-patient clinical laboratory samples:
Non-pregnant adults and children, serum:
| healthy: | < 8 IU/ml |
| uncertain: | 8 – 16 IU/ml |
| pathological: | > 16 IU/ml |
Newborns and infants, serum:
| newborns: | < 60,000 IU/ml (quickly decreasing) |
| 2nd – 3rd week: | 400 – 3,000 IU/ml |
| 10th month: | < 17 IU/ml |
| from the 2nd year on : | < 8 IU/ml |
| Week of pregnancy | AFP (median) [IU/ml] |
| 14 | 25.8 |
| 15 | 27.6 |
| 16 | 33.2 |
| 17 | 37.9 |
| 18 | 45.6 |
| 19 | 46.5 |
| 20 | 49.7 |
Please note that during pregnancy mainly week 14 to 20 are diagnostically relevant regarding the determination of AFP.
For further information please send us an e-mail: info@bioserv-diagnostics.com