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?

This is because AFP levels vary according to the gestational age of the fetus, and reporting them as multiples of the median (MoM) allows for a standardized comparison.

Choice B is wrong because AFP results do not differentiate between neural tube defects and chromosomal abnormalities.

They only indicate an increased risk for these conditions, which need further testing to confirm.

Choice C is wrong because AFP results do not assess the risk of fetal demise or multiple gestation.

They only measure the amount of AFP in the maternal blood, which can be affected by various factors such as maternal weight, race, diabetes, and fetal anomalies.

Choice D is wrong because AFP results are reported as MoM regardless of factors such as maternal weight and race.

These factors are taken into account when calculating the MoM value, which adjusts for the expected variation in AFP levels among different populations.

Normal ranges for AFP MoM vary depending on the laboratory and the method used, but generally they are between 0.5 and 2.52.

Values above or below this range may indicate an increased risk for certain fetal conditions or complications.

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.