Ordering Recommendation

Acceptable panel for surveillance and monitoring of hepatocellular carcinoma.

New York DOH Approval Status

This test is New York state approved.

Specimen Required

Patient Preparation
Collect

Plain red or serum separator tube.

Specimen Preparation

Allow specimen to clot completely at room temperature. Separate serum from cells ASAP or within 2 hours of collection. Transfer 1 mL serum to an ARUP Standard Transport Tube. (Min: 0.5 mL)

Storage/Transport Temperature

Refrigerated.

Unacceptable Conditions

Plasma

Remarks
Stability

After separation from cells: Ambient: 8 hours; Refrigerated: 5 days; Frozen: 3 months (avoid repeated freeze/thaw cycles)

Methodology

Quantitative Liquid Chromatography/Immunoassay

Performed

Mon, Thu

Reported

3-6 days

Reference Interval

Test Number
Components
Reference Interval
  Alpha Fetoprotein Total 0-15 ng/mL
  Alpha Fetoprotein L3 Pct 0.0-9.9 percent
  Des-gamma-carboxy Prothrombin 0.0-7.4 ng/mL

Interpretive Data

The µTASWako method is used. Results obtained with different assay methods or kits cannot be used interchangeably.

The AFP-L3 Percent assay is intended as a risk assessment for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic liver diseases.
Patients with elevated serum AFP-L3 percent should be more intensely evaluated for evidence of hepatocellular carcinoma since elevated values have been shown to be associated with a seven-fold increase in the risk for developing hepatocellular carcinoma within 21 months. Results cannot be interpreted as absolute evidence of the presence or absence of malignant disease.

For pregnant females, the result is not interpretable as a tumor marker.

The des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) assay is intended as a risk assessment for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic liver diseases. Elevated DCP values have been shown to be associated with an increased risk for developing hepatocellular carcinoma. Patients with elevated serum DCP should be more intensely evaluated for evidence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Results cannot be interpreted as absolute evidence of the presence or absence of malignant disease.

Medication containing vitamin K preparations may cause a negative bias of the DCP values.
Medication containing vitamin K antagonist or antibiotic may cause a positive bias of the DCP values.

Compliance Category

FDA

Note

Hotline History

N/A

CPT Codes

82107; 83951

Components

Component Test Code* Component Chart Name LOINC
0081207 Alpha Fetoprotein Total 1834-1
0081209 Alpha Fetoprotein L3 Pct 42332-7
0081327 Des-gamma-carboxy Prothrombin 34444-0
* Component test codes cannot be used to order tests. The information provided here is not sufficient for interface builds; for a complete test mix, please click the sidebar link to access the Interface Map.

Aliases

  • AFP
  • AFP-L3 Percent
  • Alpha Fetoprotein
  • Alpha Fetoprotein, Total and L3 Percent Tumor Marker
  • Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) L3 Percent and Total
  • Alpha-fetoprotein, Total
  • DCP
  • Des-Gamma-Carboxy Prothrombin Tumor Marker
  • PIVKA-II
  • Total AFP
Hepatocellular Carcinoma Tumor Marker Panel