title: Alpha-fetoprotein levels in amniotic fluid between 11 and 15 weeks.
abstract: We have shown that alpha-fetoprotein levels in amniotic fluid peak at 13 weeks and then fall by about 10% a week until 20 weeks. Use of cutoff levels obtained by extrapolation backward from medians at later dates gives results that are too high and could cause diagnostic errors. The ability to monitor alpha-fetoprotein levels accurately provides an advantage to this method of early prenatal diagnosis.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles.
authors: B F
authors: BF
authors: Crandall
authors: F W
authors: FW
authors: Hanson
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Tennant
authors: S T
authors: ST
authors: Perdue
mesh_terms: D000649:Amniocentesis; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000032:analysis*; D004586:Electrophoresis; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D011247:Pregnancy; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins