Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein screening in Taiwanese women

From January 1986 to August 1988, a maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) screening program was performed at Mackay Memorial Hospital. Clinical Assay Gamma Dab [I125] AFP RIA Kit (Baxter U.S.A.) was used for the quantitative measurement of AFP in maternal serum. Between 16 and 25 gestational weeks, MSAFP above the cut-off value at 2.5 multiples of the median was able to detect 5/7 cases of anencephalus, 2/4 cases of encephalocele, 3/3, cases of omphalocele, 11/40 cases of twin pregnancies. Among 10 cases with autosomal trisomies, 8/10 were less than 0.6 multiples of the median and 4/10 were less than 0.4 multiples of the median.