AssayPro—Human alpha Fetoprote

Introduction
Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) is a fetal-specific glycoprotein with a molecular weight of around 70 kDa. It is expressed in the embryonic liver, by cells of the vitelline sac and by the fetal intestinal tract in the first trimester of pregnancy (1). After birth, the synthesis of α-fetoprotein decreases rapidly. AFP level in adults is low but detectable (2). Alpha-fetoprotein has no known function in healthy adults. High level of α-fetoprotein in adult individual may be associated with a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), malignant tumor of the liver (1, 3). Thus, the concentration of α-fetoprotein in serum can be measured as a first step in HCC diagnosis (4 - 5). Moreover the elevated level of α-fetoprotein has been observed in lung cancer (6), gastric cancer (7 - 8), yolk sac tumor, and adenocarcinoma (9).

Principle of the Assay
The AssayMax α-Fetoprotein ELISA kit is designed for detection of human α-fetoprotein in plasma, serum, and cell culture supernatants. This assay employs a quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique, which measures α-fetoprotein in less than 4 hours. A polyclonal antibody specific for α-fetoprotein has been pre-coated onto a microplate. Human α-fetoprotein in standards and samples is sandwiched by the immobilized antibody and biotinylated polyclonal antibody specific for α-fetoprotein, which is recognized by a streptavidin-peroxidase conjugate. All unbound material is then washed away and a peroxidase enzyme substrate is added. The color development is stopped and the intensity of the color is measured.