The Autobio alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) kit is intended for the quantitative determination of AFP concentration in human serum.
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of approximately 70,000 Daltons. AFP is produced mainly by the fetal yolk sac and fetal liver and to a lesser extent by the fetal gastrointestinal tract and kidneys.
Elevation of serum AFP to abnormally high values occurs in several malignant diseases, most notably nonseminomatous testicular cancer and primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Approximately 70% of patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma show elevated levels of AFP. In the case of testicular teratoma, a direct relationship has been observed between incidence of elevated AFP levels and the stage of disease. No increased AFP levels are found in testicular seminomas. The application of AFP measurement to the management of carcinoma patients has been well documented.
In addition, elevated serum AFP concentrations have been measured in patients with other non-cancerous diseases, including ataxia telangiectasia, hereditary tyrosinemia, neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, acute viral hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis, and cirrhosis. Elevated serum AFP concentrations are also observed in pregnant women. Therefore, AFP measurements are not recommended for use as a screening procedure to detect the presence of cancer in the general population.
