Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) in Blood

AFP (Alpha-Fetoprotein) Test, MSAFP (Maternal Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein) Test

What Affects the Test

Things that may affect the results of your test include:

• If there is more than one baby (fetus). This increases the level of AFP in the blood.
• If you have gestational diabetes.
• If you smoke. This increases the level of AFP in the blood.
• If you had a medical test that used radioactive tracers in the past 2 weeks.

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Author:	Sandy Jocoy, RN	Last Updated: May 14, 2008
Medical Review:	Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine Siobhan M. Dolan, MD, MPH - Reproductive Genetics
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