My doctor tells me I need an alphafetaprotein (AFP) blood test. What is this?
The AFP test measures the amount of alphafetaprotein in the blood. A certain amount is normal in all pregnant women. It is produced by your baby’s liver, and passes through the placenta into your bloodstream. Excessive amounts of AFP may indicate a neural tube defect such as anencephaly or spina bifida. An unusually low amount may indicate the presence of Down’s syndrom in the baby.
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- My doctor tells me I need an alphafetaprotein (AFP) blood test. What is this?
