MATERNAL SERUM ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN

A plasma protein, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is normally produced by the fetus. The level of AFP in the blood serum of pregnant women provides a screening test for open neural tube defects (anencephaly and spina bifida) and for Down syndrome (and other chromosome abnormalities). The maternal serum AFP (MSAFP) tends to be unusally high with open neural tube defects and unsually low with Down syndrome.