False-positive and false-negative alpha-feto protein and human chorionic gonadotropin assays in testicular cancer: a double blind study

Abstract

The rates of false-positive and false-negative serum alpha-feto protein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) determinations in 50 patients with testicular cancer utilizing assays from a reference laboratory were studied. Seven (14%) of fifty patients had false-positive and one (2%) of 50 had false-negative serum HCG determinations. Although six (12%) of 50 of serum AFP determinations showed false-positive results; no false-negative rates were encountered for serum AFP. Utilizing simultaneous measurements of serum HCG and luteinizing hormone (LH) measuring urinary HCG by a highly specific carboxyl-terminal assay, one may rule out false-positive occurrences of serum HCG in patients with testicular cancer. This double-blind study also confirmed the need for correlating the clinical status of the patients with elevated serum AFP or HCG in patients with testicular cancer before embarking on any therapy.