Understanding the Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) Blood Test: Purpose, Procedure, and What Your Results Mean for Your Health

This test measures the level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), a protein normally produced by the liver and yolk sac of a developing fetus. In adults, AFP levels are typically very low, so this blood test is used as a tumor marker to help detect or monitor certain cancers and liver conditions.

The blood calcium test measures the amount of calcium in your serum (the liquid part of your blood) or plasma. Calcium is an essential mineral that plays a crucial role in many bodily functions, including building strong bones and teeth, helping muscles contract, enabling nerves to transmit signals, and helping blood clot normally.

This test is performed to help screen for or monitor liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma), as well as germ cell tumors of the ovaries or testicles. It may also be used during pregnancy to screen for birth defects, or to check how well cancer treatment is working and whether the disease has returned after therapy.

Your healthcare provider may order a calcium blood test to: check your overall health as part of a routine metabolic panel, diagnose or monitor conditions affecting bones, kidneys, or parathyroid glands, evaluate symptoms like muscle weakness, numbness, or irregular heartbeats, monitor calcium levels if you are taking calcium supplements or vitamin D, and assess the effectiveness of treatments for calcium-related disorders.

The test requires a simple blood draw, which you will probably have done at a lab or your doctor's office. A healthcare professional wraps a band around your upper arm, cleans the skin with an antiseptic, and inserts a small needle into a vein in your arm to collect a blood sample into a vial. The sample is sent to a laboratory for analysis; the process takes only a few minutes, but results may take a day or more.

A healthcare professional will draw a small sample of blood from a vein in your arm using a needle. The blood is collected into a special tube and sent to a laboratory for analysis. You do not need to fast before this test unless your doctor instructs otherwise. The procedure typically takes only a few minutes and is generally well-tolerated with minimal discomfort.

Your results show the amount of AFP in your blood, measured in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). Normal levels in healthy adults are usually below 10 ng/mL, but your doctor will compare your result to the lab's reference range and your personal history. The number alone does not confirm a diagnosis, and your doctor will interpret it along with imaging, symptoms, and other tests.

Calcium levels are typically reported in either milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or millimoles per liter (mmol/L). The normal range for adults is approximately 8.5-10.5 mg/dL (2.12-2.62 mmol/L), though reference ranges may vary slightly between laboratories. Your doctor will interpret your results based on your overall health, symptoms, and other test results.

Abnormal results mean your AFP level is higher than expected, which can indicate conditions such as liver cancer, cirrhosis, hepatitis, or germ cell tumors; however, elevated AFP can also occur with pregnancy, certain benign liver diseases, or even some non-cancerous conditions. Low or normal results do not fully rule out cancer, so your doctor may order follow-up imaging, biopsies, or repeat blood tests to determine the cause and next steps.

High calcium levels (hypercalcemia) may indicate conditions such as hyperparathyroidism, certain cancers, vitamin D excess, or kidney disease. Low calcium levels (hypocalcemia) may be caused by low parathyroid hormone, vitamin D deficiency, kidney problems, or certain medications. Your healthcare provider will discuss what your specific results mean and whether further testing or treatment is needed.