Alpha Feto Protein (AFP) Test in Kathmandu

About this test

Alpha Feto Protein is a protein made in large amounts by the liver and yolk sac of a developing baby, which is why it normally circulates at high levels in the unborn child and falls to a trace by the first birthday. In adults a rising level becomes a useful warning signal, and your doctor may request this blood test in two quite different situations. The first is as a tumour marker: AFP is the principal blood test used to screen for and monitor hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer), and it is also raised in certain germ-cell tumours of the testis and ovary. Because chronic hepatitis B is widespread in Nepal and is the leading cause of liver cancer here, people with long-standing hepatitis B or cirrhosis are often followed with periodic AFP measurements alongside a liver ultrasound. A persistently climbing value in someone with known liver disease prompts urgent imaging, while a falling value after treatment is reassuring. The second use is in pregnancy, where AFP measured in the mother's blood (usually between 15 and 20 weeks, often as part of a triple or quadruple screen) helps assess the risk of neural-tube defects such as spina bifida when it is high, or of certain chromosomal conditions when it is low. A single AFP result is rarely diagnostic on its own; it is always read in the light of your hepatitis status, liver function tests, ultrasound or other imaging, and in pregnancy the gestational age and other screening markers. Mild elevations can also accompany ordinary hepatitis flares or liver regeneration, so trends over time matter more than one figure.

Sample type

Blood (serum)

Preparation

No fasting required. If you are pregnant, please tell us the exact number of weeks of your pregnancy, as the result is interpreted against the gestational age.

Turnaround time

Reports for Alpha Feto Protein (AFP) are typically ready within: Same Day. Reports can be collected at the clinic during opening hours or shared via WhatsApp once they are ready.

Also known as

Other hormones tests we run

These are routinely ordered alongside Alpha Feto Protein (AFP) or as part of the same diagnostic workup.

How to book

WhatsApp is the fastest way — message us with the test name and your preferred time, and we'll confirm a slot the same day. You can also walk into the clinic at Rumba Chowk, Sanobharang any day between 7AM and 8PM, or fill in our online booking form.