Test Overview
Test Methodology
Chemiluminescent Immunoassay (CLIA)
Test Usage
CSF levels of AFP are a useful aid in the diagnosis of primary central nervous system (CNS) germ cell tumors (GCTs). These account for approximately 4 % of primary brain tumors in children. AFP elevation in CSF occurs in approximately 70 % of these tumors. Concurrent testing of beta-HCG is recommended to improve the sensitivity for detecting these CNS tumors. CSF levels of AFP will also be elevated with brain metastases of testicular cancer.
Reference Range *
0 - 1 ng/mL
* Reference ranges may change over time. Please refer to the original patient report when evaluating results.
Test Details
Days Set Up
Daily, 24 hours
Analytic Time
2 hours
Soft Order Code
AFCSF
MiChart Code
Alpha-Fetoprotein, CSF
Synonyms
- AFP, CSF
Laboratory
Chemical Pathology
Section
Automation
Specimen Requirements
Collection Instructions
Collect spinal fluid, refrigerate.
Normal Volume
0.5 mL CSF
Minimum Volume
0.25 mL CSF
Billing
CPT Code
86316
Fee Code
JA018
LOINC
1833-3