Maternal Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein (MSAFP) Test
Maternal Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein (MSAFP) Test ( 5 Questions)
A nurse is providing education to a client about the MSAFP test.
Which of the following statements accurately describes the MSAFP results?
MSAFP results are not diagnostic and do not confirm the presence of fetal anomalies. They only indicate the risk of certain conditions and the need for further evaluation.
MSAFP results require further evaluation or testing if they are abnormal. A normal MSAFP result does not rule out the possibility of fetal anomalies, nor does it guarantee a healthy outcome.
This is because MSAFP is a screening test that measures the level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the maternal blood, which is produced by the fetus. The MoM value compares the AFP level of the mother to the average level for women of the same gestational age. A MoM value that is too high or too low may indicate a risk of certain fetal anomalies, such as neural tube defects or chromosomal abnormalities. However, MSAFP results are not diagnostic and do not confirm the presence or absence of any condition. They only indicate the need for further testing, such as ultrasound, amniocentesis, or chorionic villus sampling.
MSAFP results do not indicate the gestational age of the fetus. They are compared to the average level for women of the same gestational age to calculate the MoM value. Gestational age can be estimated by other methods, such as ultrasound or last menstrual period.
This is because MSAFP is a screening test that measures the level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the maternal blood, which is produced by the fetus. The MoM value compares the AFP level of the mother to the average level for women of the same gestational age. A MoM value that is too high or too low may indicate a risk of certain fetal anomalies, such as neural tube defects or chromosomal abnormalities.
However, MSAFP results are not diagnostic and do not confirm the presence or absence of any condition. They only indicate the need for further testing, such as ultrasound, amniocentesis, or chorionic villus sampling.
Choice A is wrong because MSAFP results are not diagnostic and do not confirm the presence of fetal anomalies. They only indicate the risk of certain conditions and the need for further evaluation.
Choice B is wrong because MSAFP results require further evaluation or testing if they are abnormal. A normal MSAFP result does not rule out the possibility of fetal anomalies, nor does it guarantee a healthy outcome.
Choice D is wrong because MSAFP results do not indicate the gestational age of the fetus. They are compared to the average level for women of the same gestational age to calculate the MoM value. Gestational age can be estimated by other methods, such as ultrasound or last menstrual period.