Port Moresby Medical Laboratories (POMMEDLAB)

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If you have any of these symptoms or complaints, you should have your AFP levels checked.

Liver Cancer:

· Suspect Liver disease

· Right-sided abdominal

· Lower right rib margin or Right-upper quadrant, RUQ pain

· Epigastric Pain

· Jaundiced

· Heavy alcohol user

· Unexplained recent weight loss

· Changes dietary habits e.g. Loss of appetite

· Abdominal fullness

· Abdominal Mass, swelling or lump

· Bilateral ankle or leg swelling

· Chronic cough and progressive breathlessness

Ovary or Testicular Cancer

· Abdominal Pain

· Recent unexplained weight loss

· Appetite changes

· Testicular mass

· Testicular Pain or discomfort

· Abdominal swelling or mass

· Abdominal fullness

Alpha Feto-Protein (AFP)

AFP stands for Alpha-Feto-Protein. Liver produces this small protein molecule normally in very small amounts and is barely detected in bloods. Patients with liver cancer or hepatoma produce excess amounts of AFP and this overflow into peripheral blood can be detected using antibody against AFP. AFP can be measured to diagnose hepatoma or monitor effect treatment or recurrence following treatment. In addition, AFP is also used to diagnose and monitor so called ‘germ cell tumors’ of testis and ovary.

Question 1. What is AFP

Question 2. When can I request AFP testing?

Question 3. How is AFP Tested?

Question 5. How good is AFP?

AFP is measured on a small sample of blood. Specific antibody is used to trap AFP from serum and level is quantified and reported. For most patients only one tube of blood is needed for all the tests. Fasting is not needed and no special preparation is required prior to sample collection