Current issues in maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein screening.
Measurement of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein originated in the early 1970s as a means to screen for fetal neural tube defects, a relatively common and devastating class of malformations. Since that time, assay methods have improved, interpretation has been refined, follow-up testing for neural tube defects has advanced, and many other disease associations have been uncovered. It is a unique test, both in its clinical application and its laboratory implementation. The present review outlines current procedures for maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein screening and summarizes recent developments.
Department of Pathology, State University of New York, Stony Brook.
J L
JL
Bock
D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000175:diagnosis; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins