A client asks the nurse about the significance of Alpha-fetoprotein Test (AFP) results.
How should the nurse respond?
AFP results are diagnostic for fetal anomalies.
AFP results require further evaluation for confirmation.
AFP results can only detect neural tube defects.
AFP results are affected by maternal race and ethnicity.
The Correct Answer is B
AFP is a screening tool that can indicate the possibility of certain fetal anomalies, such as neural tube defects, abdominal wall defects, or chromosomal abnormalities.
However, AFP results are not diagnostic and cannot confirm the presence or absence of these conditions.
Therefore, further tests, such as ultrasound or amniocentesis, are needed to verify the results.
Choice A is wrong because AFP results are not diagnostic for fetal anomalies.
They only indicate a risk level that needs to be confirmed by other tests.
Choice C is wrong because AFP results can detect not only neural tube defects, but also other fetal anomalies, such as abdominal wall defects or chromosomal abnormalities.
Choice D is wrong because AFP results are not affected by maternal race and ethnicity.
They are affected by maternal age, weight, diabetes, multiple gestation, and gestational age.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
The level of AFP in a pregnant woman’s blood depends on how far along she is in her pregnancy.
AFP levels are normally high in the early weeks of pregnancy and then decline as the pregnancy progresses.
If the AFP level is too high or too low for the gestational age, it may indicate a problem with the baby’s development.
Choice A is wrong because maternal weight does not affect AFP levels.
Choice B is wrong because fetal heart rate does not affect AFP levels.
Choice D is wrong because the placental function does not affect AFP levels directly, but it may affect the levels of other hormones that are measured along with AFP in a quad screen.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
An alpha-fetoprotein test (AFP) is a blood test that measures the amount of AFP present in blood.
It’s usually part of what’s called a triple screen or quad screen in the second trimester of pregnancy.
The yolk sac, GI tract, and liver of an unborn baby produce AFP.
It then circulates through the fetal and maternal blood.
High levels of AFP in pregnant people can indicate that the baby has a neural tube defect, such as spina bifida or anencephaly.
Choice B is wrong because assessing placental function is not the primary purpose of an AFP test.
However, low levels of AFP can indicate problems with the placenta or the baby’s growth.
Choice C is wrong because determining fetal gender is not the primary purpose of an AFP test.
However, some genetic tests that use a sample of the baby’s DNA from the pregnant person’s blood can reveal the baby’s sex as early as 10 weeks of pregnancy.
Choice D is wrong because diagnosing chromosomal abnormalities is not the primary purpose of an AFP test.
However, an AFP test is usually part of a quad screen that also tests for other markers that can indicate the risk of chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome.
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