Positive AFP Test?

Question

anyone ever have a positive AFP test...if so was everything okay or did they really find something??

Im worried cause my AFP test came back positive but I might be 2-3 weeks off from my due date (not sure if thats enough time for the test to be positive) also worried because during late Jan and Until mid-Feb I was drinking on Friday nights and I wasnt aware that I was pregnant until early March (conceived sometime around late Jan).

My doctor has my due date at Nov 2...with my last period being Jan 27 (somewhat of a random date cause I cant remember the date of my Jan period...looked at the calender and decided either got my period on the 12th or 19th or 26)

Answer 1

The AFP test is very sensitive.  You can get a false positive even if it is off by a week.  Follow up with your doctor and see what he/she suggests.  Usually you are sent to a perinatologist who is a specialist so to speak kind of ob/gyn who deals with this type of results.  Good luck

Answer 2

A positive AFP test has a high degree of sensitivity (that means it's very easy to detect), but it has a low specificity, that means it could mean a variety of different things.

You can see an elevation of AFP in cases of neural tube defects (folate deficiency can cause this), multiple gestation (twins), tumors, and Downs syndrome

To make a definitive case for either further testing is needed. I would not loose too much sleep on this, as testing for AFP is a standard of care for the first term.

You have the tripple, and quad screen test to look forward to help make a definitive diagnosis.

Congratulations on your pregnancy.