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 Test Performed
Daily, 24 hours
Analytic Time
2 hours
Soft Order Code
AFCSF
MiChart Code
Alpha-Fetoprotein, CSF
Synonyms
AFP, CSF
Laboratory
Chemical Pathology
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Specimen Requirements
Offsite Collection Instructions
Collect spinal fluid, refrigerate.
Normal Volume
0.5 mL CSF
Minimum Volume
0.25 mL CSF
Billing Information
Fee Codes
CPT Code
86316
LOINC
1833-3
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