Test Catalog

Test Id : L3AFP

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Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) L3% and Total, Hepatocellular Carcinoma Tumor Marker, Serum

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Overview

Test Catalog

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Distinguishing between hepatocellular carcinoma and chronic liver disease

 

Monitoring individuals with hepatic cirrhosis from any etiology for progression to hepatocellular carcinoma

 

Surveillance for development of hepatocellular carcinoma in individuals with a positive family history of hepatic cancer

 

Surveillance for development of hepatocellular carcinoma in individuals within specific ethnic and sex groups who do not have hepatic cirrhosis but have a confirmed diagnosis of chronic infection by hepatitis B acquired early in life, including:

-African men above the age of 20

-Asian men above the age of 40

-Asian women above the age of 50

Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test

Isotachophoresis with Laser-Induced Fluorescence

NY State Available
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.

Yes

Reporting Name
Lists a shorter or abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test

AFP-L3% and Total AFP, S

Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type validated for testing

Serum

Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum Gel

Acceptable: Red Top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL

Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send 1 of the following forms with the specimen:

-Oncology Test Request (T729)

-Gastroenterology and Hepatology Test Request (T728)

Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of sample necessary to provide a clinically relevant result as determined by the testing laboratory. The minimum volume is sufficient for one attempt at testing.

0.2 mL

Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia OK
Gross icterus OK

Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the performing laboratory, alternate acceptable temperatures are also included

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Frozen (preferred) 180 days
Refrigerated 5 days

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Distinguishing between hepatocellular carcinoma and chronic liver disease

 

Monitoring individuals with hepatic cirrhosis from any etiology for progression to hepatocellular carcinoma

 

Surveillance for development of hepatocellular carcinoma in individuals with a positive family history of hepatic cancer

 

Surveillance for development of hepatocellular carcinoma in individuals within specific ethnic and sex groups who do not have hepatic cirrhosis but have a confirmed diagnosis of chronic infection by hepatitis B acquired early in life, including:

-African men above the age of 20

-Asian men above the age of 40

-Asian women above the age of 50

Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Worldwide, hepatocellular carcinoma is the third leading cause of death from cancer.(1) While hepatocellular carcinoma can be treated effectively in its early stages, most patients are not diagnosed until they are symptomatic and at higher grades and stages, which are less responsive to therapies. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is the standard serum tumor marker utilized in the evaluation of suspected hepatocellular carcinoma. However, increased serum concentrations of AFP may be found in chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis as well as in other tumor types (eg, germ cell tumors),(2) decreasing the specificity of AFP testing for hepatocellular carcinoma. Furthermore, AFP is not expressed at high levels in all hepatocellular carcinoma patients, resulting in decreased sensitivity, especially in potentially curable small tumors.

 

AFP is differentially glycosylated in several hepatic diseases. For example, uridine diphosphate-alpha-(1->6)-fucosyltransferase is differentially expressed in hepatocytes following malignant transformation.(3) This enzyme incorporates fucose residues on the carbohydrate chains of AFP. Different glycosylated forms of AFP can be recognized following electrophoresis by reaction with different carbohydrate-binding plant lectins. The fucosylated form of serum AFP, which is most closely associated with hepatocellular carcinoma, is recognized by a lectin from the common lentil (Lens culinaris). This is designated as AFP-L3 (third electrophoretic form of lentil lectin-reactive AFP). AFP-L3 is most useful in the differential diagnosis of individuals with total serum AFP of 200 ng/mL or below, which may result from a variety of benign pathologies, such as chronic liver diseases.

 

AFP-L3 should be utilized as an adjunct to high-resolution ultrasound for surveillance of individuals at significant risk for developing hepatic lesions.

Reference Values
Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

TOTAL ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN (AFP):

<4.7 ng/mL

 

AFP %L3:

<10%

Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-L3 results of 10% or above are associated with a 7-fold increased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma. Patients with AFP-L3 at this level should be monitored more intensely for evidence of hepatocellular carcinoma according to current practice guidelines.

 

A total serum AFP above 200 ng/mL is highly suggestive of a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. In patients with liver disease, a total serum AFP at this level is near 100% predictive of hepatocellular carcinoma. With lower total AFP levels, there is an increased likelihood that chronic liver disease, rather than hepatocellular carcinoma, is responsible for the AFP elevation.

 

AFP concentrations over 100,000 ng/mL have been reported in normal newborns, and the values rapidly decline in the first 6 years of life.

Cautions
Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

Tumor marker tests are not specific for diagnosis of malignancy. Some hepatocellular tumors do not synthesize alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). AFP or AFP-L3 should, therefore, not be relied upon alone. Concomitant clinical assessment or imaging is recommended in hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance of high-risk patients and for hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis.

 

Test results for AFP are not interpretable if the individual is pregnant.

 

Alpha-Fetoprotein and L3% values are not interpretable during pregnancy for the investigation of malignant disease.

 

Higher AFP values are found in newborns and pregnant women.

 

Values obtained with different assay methods or kits cannot be used interchangeably. The total AFP test value must be obtained using this method (uTASWako i30 AFP-L3 kit) in order to determine the percent AFP-L3. Mayo Clinic Laboratories other AFP tumor marker test, AFP / Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) Tumor Marker, Serum; is not suitable for use with AFP-L3 values.

 

In rare cases, some individuals can develop antibodies to mouse or other animal antibodies (often referred to as human anti-mouse antibodies [HAMA] or heterophile antibodies), which may cause interference in some immunoassays. Caution should be used in interpretation of results and the laboratory should be alerted if the result does not correlate with the clinical presentation.

Clinical Reference
Recommendations for in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Kawai K, Kojima T, Miyanaga N, et al. Lectin-reactive alpha-fetoprotein as a marker for testicular tumor activity. Int J Urol. 2005;12(3):284-289

2. Noda K, Miyoshi E, Kitada T, et al. The enzymatic basis for the conversion of nonfucosylated to fucosylated alpha-fetoprotein by acyclic retinoid treatment in human hepatoma cells: Activation of alpha 1-6 fucosyltransferase. Tumor Biol. 2002;23(4):202-211

3. Leerapun A, Suravarapu S, Bida JP, et al. The utility of serum AFP-L3 in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: Evaluation in a U.S. referral population. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2007;5(3):394-402

4. Chaiteerakij R, Addissie BD, Roberts LR. Update on biomarkers of hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2015;13(2):237-245. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2013.10.038

5. Johnson P, Pirrie S, Cox T, et al: The detection of hepatocellular carcinoma using a prospectively developed and validated model based on serological biomarkers. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2014;23(1):144-153. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-13-0870

6. Yang JD, Addissie BD, Mara KC, et al. GALAD Score for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Detection in Comparison with Liver Ultrasound and Proposal of GALADUS Score. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2019;28(3):531-538. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-18-0281

7. Zhou JM, Wang T, Zhang KH. AFP-L3 for the diagnosis of early hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2021;100(43):e27673. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000027673

Method Description
Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference

Total alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is measured by laser-induced fluorescence, with separation of the lentil lectin-reactive AFP-L3 and lectin nonreactive forms of AFP by isotachophoresis of their immune-complexes. Results are expressed as the percent ratio of AFP-L3 to total AFP.(Package insert: uTASWako i30 AFP-L3 18.07.18K13. Wako Diagnostics; 07/2018)

PDF Report
Indicates whether the report includes an additional document with charts, images or other enriched information

No

Day(s) Performed
Outlines the days the test is performed. This field reflects the day that the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means that assays are performed multiple times during the day.

Monday through Friday

Report Available
The interval of time (receipt of sample at Mayo Clinic Laboratories to results available) taking into account standard setup days and weekends. The first day is the time that it typically takes for a result to be available. The last day is the time it might take, accounting for any necessary repeated testing.

1 to 4 days

Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded

14 days

Performing Laboratory Location
Indicates the location of the laboratory that performs the test

Rochester

Fees
Several factors determine the fee charged to perform a test. Contact your U.S. or International Regional Manager for information about establishing a fee schedule or to learn more about resources to optimize test selection.

  • Authorized users can sign in to Test Prices for detailed fee information.
  • Clients without access to Test Prices can contact Customer Service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Prospective clients should contact their account representative. For assistance, contact Customer Service.

Test Classification
Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR) product.

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Clinic Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.

CPT codes are provided by the performing laboratory.

82107

LOINC® Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the order and results codes of this test. LOINC values are provided by the performing laboratory.

Test Id Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
L3AFP AFP-L3% and Total AFP, S 96451-0
Result Id Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
TAFP Total AFP, S 1834-1
L3 %L3 42332-7
INT67 Interpretation 69048-7

Test Setup Resources

Setup Files
Test setup information contains test file definition details to support order and result interfacing between Mayo Clinic Laboratories and your Laboratory Information System.

Excel | Pdf

Sample Reports
Normal and Abnormal sample reports are provided as references for report appearance.

Normal Reports | Abnormal Reports

SI Sample Reports
International System (SI) of Unit reports are provided for a limited number of tests. These reports are intended for international account use and are only available through MayoLINK accounts that have been defined to receive them.

SI Normal Reports | SI Abnormal Reports

Test Update Resources

Change Type Effective Date
Test Changes - Specimen Information 2023-05-18