Test guide
Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP) Tumor Marker Test
An AFP tumor marker test is a blood test that measures the level of AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) in a sample of your blood. AFP is a protein that the liver makes when its cells are growing and dividing to make new cells. AFP levels are normally high in a fetus, but after birth, they drop very low. Healthy children and adults who aren’t pregnant have very little AFP in their blood.
What it is for
Though an AFP tumor marker test alone cannot be used to screen for or diagnose cancer, it can be used alongside other tumor marker and imaging tests, such as: An AFP tumor marker test may also be used to: Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Medical test information is public domain. Source identity and definition checked automatically on 2026-10-18. No individual clinical interpretation or human reviewer is asserted.
Limitations
Reference intervals and interpretation depend on the laboratory, specimen, method and clinical context. This source definition is educational information; it does not establish a diagnosis, product approval or suitability for an individual.
Also known as
- total AFP, alpha-fetoprotein-L3 Percent
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