ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN (AFP) LEVELS IN NORMAL-CHILDREN

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is an important tumor marker for yolk sac tumo r and hepatoblastoma in childhood. We have been using the graph of the normal range of serum AFP made by Tsuchida et al, when we evaluate th e serum AFP levels in early infancy. We measured the serum AFP levels by an immunoradiometric assay in 163 normal infants under 2 years of a ge, in order to make a more precise graph. Our normal range was a litt le wider than that of Tsuchida et al. According to our graph, false-po sitive cases would be fewer. Referring to the half-lives of serum AFP levels in normal infancy is also useful, when it is difficult to evalu ate the AFP level.