Why Get Tested?
To help diagnose and monitor therapy for certain cancers of the liver, testes, or ovaries
When to Get Tested?
When your doctor suspects that you have certain cancers of the liver, testes, or ovaries; at intervals during and after treatment for one of these cancers; sometimes when you have chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis
Sample Required?
A blood sample drawn from a vein in the arm
How is it used?
AFP is used to help detect and diagnose cancers of the liver, testes, and ovaries. It is often ordered to monitor people with chronic liver diseases such as cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis B because they have an increased lifetime risk of developing liver cancer. A doctor may order an AFP test, along with imaging studies, to try to detect liver cancer when it is in its earliest, and most treatable, stages.
If a patient has been diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma or another form of AFP-producing cancer, an AFP test may be ordered periodically to help monitor a patient's response to therapy and to monitor for cancer recurrence.
A relatively new test, called AFP-L3%, is sometimes also ordered to compare the amount of total AFP to the amount of one of the AFP variants called AFP-L3. The AFP-L3% test is not yet widely used in the U.S. but has gained wider acceptance in other countries such as Japan. The test is used to help evaluate the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma, especially in those with chronic liver disease. An increase in the percentage of L3 to total AFP indicates an increased risk of rapidly developing this disease and also of having less chance of survival.
To help diagnose and monitor therapy for certain cancers of the liver, testes, or ovaries
When to Get Tested?
When your doctor suspects that you have certain cancers of the liver, testes, or ovaries; at intervals during and after treatment for one of these cancers; sometimes when you have chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis
Sample Required?
A blood sample drawn from a vein in the arm
How is it used?
AFP is used to help detect and diagnose cancers of the liver, testes, and ovaries. It is often ordered to monitor people with chronic liver diseases such as cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis B because they have an increased lifetime risk of developing liver cancer. A doctor may order an AFP test, along with imaging studies, to try to detect liver cancer when it is in its earliest, and most treatable, stages.
If a patient has been diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma or another form of AFP-producing cancer, an AFP test may be ordered periodically to help monitor a patient's response to therapy and to monitor for cancer recurrence.
A relatively new test, called AFP-L3%, is sometimes also ordered to compare the amount of total AFP to the amount of one of the AFP variants called AFP-L3. The AFP-L3% test is not yet widely used in the U.S. but has gained wider acceptance in other countries such as Japan. The test is used to help evaluate the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma, especially in those with chronic liver disease. An increase in the percentage of L3 to total AFP indicates an increased risk of rapidly developing this disease and also of having less chance of survival.
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