Guidelines for establishing a maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein screening program.
Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) screening of all pregnant women between 15 and 20 weeks gestational age is generally recognized as a standard of care in current obstetric practice. There are many factors to consider when deciding to establish MSAFP testing as an in-house procedure versus ship-out testing by a reference laboratory at fee-for-service cost. In this report, we review clinical and analytical aspects of MSAFP testing, along with appropriate guidelines for establishing an on-site MSAFP screening program.
Wians
F H
FH
Department of Pathology, Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center/SGHOLCC, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX 78236-5300.
Hankins
G D
GD
Yeomans
E R
ER
Hammond
T L
TL
Strickland
D M
DM
D001835:Body Weight; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008889:Military Personnel; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins