Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) in Blood

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

What Affects the Test

Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:

• If you smoke. This increases the level of alpha-fetoprotein in the blood.
• If you had a medical test that used radioactive tracers in the past 2 weeks.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated May 29, 2006
Medical Review:	Renée M. Crichlow, MD - Family Medicine Siobhan M. Dolan, MD, MPH - Reproductive Genetics
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