Preferred Specimen(s) 1 mL serum
Transport Container Plastic screw-cap vial
Transport Temperature
- Ambient 7 days, Stable 1 week,
- Refrigerated 7 days
Reject Criteria
- Gross hemolysis
- Hyperlipemic
- EDTA or heparinized plasma
Methodology Chemiluminescence
Clinical Significance Elevation of serum AFP above values found in healthy individuals occurs in several malignant diseases, most notably nonseminomatous testicular cancer and primary hepatocellular carcinoma. AFP is not recommended as a screening procedure to detect cancer in the general population.