A nurse is providing education to a client who is scheduled to undergo chorionic villus sampling (CVS).

Which statement by the client indicates an understanding of this test?

Normal level of AFP for the given gestational age.

AFP is a protein that the liver makes when its cells are growing and dividing to make new cells.

It is normally high in unborn babies and drops very low after birth.

The AFP test measures the amount of AFP present in blood and can help diagnose certain types of cancer and check how well treatment is working.

It can also help detect some birth defects in pregnant women.

Choice B is wrong because high level of AFP indicating a neural tube defect.

Neural tube defects are abnormalities that affect the brain and spinal cord of the fetus.

They can cause spina bifida, which is a condition where the spine does not close properly.

High levels of AFP can be a sign of neural tube defects, but they can also be caused by other factors, such as multiple pregnancies, inaccurate dating of pregnancy, or fetal death.

Choice C is wrong because low level of AFP indicating a chromosomal abnormality.

Chromosomal abnormalities are genetic disorders that affect the number or structure of chromosomes in the fetus.

They can cause Down syndrome, which is a condition where the fetus has an extra copy of chromosome 212.

Low levels of AFP can be a sign of chromosomal abnormalities, but they can also be caused by other factors, such as inaccurate dating of pregnancy, fetal death, or maternal obesity.

Choice D is wrong because inconclusive result, requiring further evaluation.

An inconclusive result means that the AFP level is neither too high nor too low to indicate a problem with the fetus.

It does not necessarily mean that there is something wrong with the fetus, but it may require further testing to confirm or rule out any abnormalities.

Normal ranges for AFP levels vary depending on the gestational age and the laboratory that performs the test.

Generally, the normal range for AFP levels in pregnant

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.