AFP

Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 70 kDA. AFP is normally produced during fetal development by the hepatocytes, yolk sac and to a lesser extent by the gastrointestinal tract.

Serum concentrations reach a peak level of up to 10 mg/ml at twelve weeks of gestation. This peak level gradually decreases to less than 25 ng/ml after one year of postpartum. Thereafter, the levels reduce further to less than 10 ng/ml. Elevated levels of AFP are found in patients with primary heptatoma and yolk sac-derived germ tumors. AFP is the most useful marker for the diagnosis and management of hepatocellular carcinoma.

The Biorex Diagnostics Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) kit is intended for the quantitative determination of Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) Concentration in Human Serum by a Microplate Immunoenzymometric assay.