Turnaround times
The quoted turnaround time is from sample receipt in the laboratory, to results authorisation in the Laboratory Information Management system. The times do not include transport of specimen to the laboratory or the administrative process to print and post/email reports. Service users must allow for transport and reporting time when ordering tests.
Clinical background:
AFP is not normally expressed in the central nervous system (CNS). The presence of germinomas in the CNS and CNS involvement in metastatic cancer and meningeal carcinomatosis results in increased levels of AFP in cerebrospinal fluid.
Specimen container paediatric:
Plain universal container
Specimen container adult:
Plain universal container
Minimum volume paediatric:
0.5 mL CSF
Minimum volume adult:
0.5 mL CSF
Availability:
24/7, analysed at Freeman
Interpretation:
CSF AFP is valuble: As an adjunct in the diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) germinomas and meningeal carcinomatosis.
Evaluating germ-cell tumors, including testicular cancer metastatic to the CNS in conjunction with beta-human chorionic gonadotropin measurement
As an adjunct in distinguishing between suprasellar dysgerminomas and craniopharyngiomas
As a supplement to cerebrospinal fluid cytologic analysis