Lab test · Oncology
Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP)
Liver cancer & pregnancy marker
- Blood sample
- No fasting
- Report within 2 days
- Home collection
What this test is for
Liver cancer & pregnancy marker
Alpha-fetoprotein is a protein made mainly by the liver of an unborn baby, so levels are naturally high in pregnancy and very low in other adults. Outside pregnancy, a raised AFP can be a sign of liver cancer or of some testicular and ovarian germ cell tumours. Doctors use it to watch for liver cancer in people with long-term liver disease, to follow these cancers during treatment and, in pregnancy, as part of screening for some conditions in the baby.
Why a doctor may order it
- Regular checks, with ultrasound, in people with cirrhosis or long-term hepatitis B or C
- When a liver scan shows a lump that needs further assessment
- To help assess and follow some testicular or ovarian tumours
- As part of screening in pregnancy, usually within the triple marker test
How to prepare
Fasting: Not needed.
You can eat and drink normally before this test, without fasting. Your usual medicines can be taken as normal unless your doctor says otherwise. If you are, or could be, pregnant, tell your doctor, because pregnancy raises AFP and changes how the result is read.
At home
- Sample
- Blood sample
- How it works
- The collector comes to your home and draws a small blood sample from a vein in your arm. It takes a few minutes, and a cotton pad or plaster is placed on the spot afterwards.
- Report
- Within 2 days of collection.
What the results can mean
Your report shows the AFP level next to the laboratory's reference range. Outside pregnancy, a raised AFP may point to liver cancer or a germ cell tumour, but it can also rise with hepatitis and cirrhosis, and some liver cancers do not raise AFP at all. In pregnancy, AFP is interpreted according to the stage of pregnancy. Your doctor will interpret the result with scans and other tests.
What's included
One test: Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP), from one blood sample.
Related tests
- Liver Function Test (LFT)A liver function test is a group of blood tests that show how well your liver is working and whether it is inflamed or damaged.
- Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg)HBsAg is a protein on the surface of the hepatitis B virus.
- Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA)CEA is a protein normally present only in very small amounts in adults' blood, but some cancers, particularly bowel (colorectal) cancer, can release more of it, so it is known as a tumour marker.
- Beta hCG Blood Test (Quantitative)Beta hCG measures the exact amount of human chorionic gonadotrophin, the pregnancy hormone made by the placenta after a fertilised egg settles in the womb.
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- Free PSA (Free Prostate-Specific Antigen)Prostate health & cancer screen৳750
Questions people ask
Why is AFP checked in people with hepatitis B?
Long-term hepatitis B and cirrhosis increase the risk of liver cancer. Regular AFP tests, usually with an ultrasound scan, help doctors look for it early.
Does a high AFP always mean cancer?
No. AFP can rise with hepatitis, cirrhosis and pregnancy. Your doctor looks at the level, the trend and scan results before drawing any conclusion.
Why is AFP measured in pregnancy?
The baby makes AFP, and some of it passes into the mother's blood. Unusual levels, combined with other markers, can suggest a higher chance of certain conditions in the baby, which your doctor may follow up with a scan.
How much does a AFP test cost in Dhaka?
With Mukti Health the price is ৳650, and the sample is collected at your home in Dhaka. You see the price again before you confirm the booking in the Mukti Health app.
Can I do the AFP test at home in Dhaka?
Yes. Book it in the Mukti Health app and a trained sample collector comes to your home in Dhaka to take the blood sample. You do not need to go to a laboratory.
How long does the AFP report take?
The report is usually ready within 2 days of the sample being collected.