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Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

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MATERNAL SERUM AFP

Geisinger Epic Procedure Code:  LAB2655    Geisinger Epic ID:  48842

SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Specimen type: 

Serum


Preferred collection container: 
Alternate collection container: 
6 mL red-top (plain, non-serum separator) tube
Specimen required: 

1 mL aliquot serum; minimum 0.5 mL.


Special notes: 

Need completed maternal serum screen information form. Download Maternal Serum Screen Information Form.


Patient preparation: 

Patient must be 15 weeks to 22 weeks, 6 days gestation.



SPECIMEN PROCESSING
Processing instructions: 

***These samples must be sent to GMC. GMC will populate special information needed by Quest and will then batch.


Transport temperature: 

Refrigerated (preferred) or frozen.


Specimen stability: 

Room temperature: 14 days. Refrigerated: 14 days. Frozen: 45 days.


Rejection criteria: 

Stability limit exceeded or if specimen is lipemic, icteric, or hemolyzed.



TEST DETAILS
CPT code(s):  82105
Note: The billing party has sole responsibility for CPT coding.  Any questions regarding coding should be directed to the payer being billed.
The CPT codes provided by GML are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only.

Test includes: 

Alpha-fetoprotein value and multiple of the median with interpretive report for risk of open neural tube defect.


Methodology: 
Immunoassay
Risk Calculation Software
Synonyms: 

Maternal serum prenatal screen for neural tube defect (NTD) Alphafetoprotein, Quest test code 5059, MATAFP


Clinical significance: 

Maternal serum AFP is a prenatal screening test used to screen for open neural tube defects. This is not a diagnostic test. MATAFP alone should not be used to screen for chromosomal abnormalities.


Review Date:  12/05/2024

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