Alpha Feto Protein, Tumour Marker near me in Lucknow
Understanding Alpha Feto Protein, Tumour Marker in Lucknow
What is Alpha Feto Protein, Tumour Marker in Lucknow?
An Alpha Feto Protein, Tumour Marker test measures the level of a specific protein called Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the blood. This protein is normally produced by the liver and yolk sac of the fetus during pregnancy. This test helps in the screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of certain conditions such as chronic liver disease, and cancer of the liver, ovaries, and testicles. This test is widely available in Lucknow at an affordable price with Tata 1mg labs.
Doctors may recommend this test if you have symptoms indicative of liver diseases particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (a type of liver cancer) or non-cancerous liver conditions such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, etc. This test can be done to diagnose and monitor certain germ cell tumors including testicular and ovarian cancers. Also, during pregnancy, it helps to screen certain developmental abnormalities in the fetus such as neural tube defects, chromosomal abnormalities, etc.
No special preparation is required for this test. You can eat and drink as per your routine. However, it is important to provide a brief clinical history or doctor's prescription at the time of sample collection. Also, tell your doctor about any medications you are taking as certain medications can potentially affect the AFP levels.
What does Alpha Feto Protein, Tumour Marker measure?
An Alpha Feto Protein, Tumour Marker test that measures the level of AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) in your blood sample. Alpha-fetoprotein is a protein produced by the liver of a developing baby (fetus). AFP circulates through the fetal and maternal blood. It is present during pregnancy but disappears rapidly after birth. However, elevated AFP levels in adults can be a sign of liver disease, liver cancer, or cancers of the testes or ovaries. An Alpha Feto Protein, Tumour Marker can also be used for assessing response to ongoing treatment and monitoring for cancer recurrence.