A nurse is discussing the factors that can affect Alpha-fetoprotein Test (AFP) results with a pregnant client.
Which factor should the nurse mention?
Maternal weight.
Fetal heart rate.
Gestational age.
Placental function.
The Correct Answer is C
The level of AFP in a pregnant woman’s blood depends on how far along she is in her pregnancy.
AFP levels are normally high in the early weeks of pregnancy and then decline as the pregnancy progresses.
If the AFP level is too high or too low for the gestational age, it may indicate a problem with the baby’s development.
Choice A is wrong because maternal weight does not affect AFP levels.
Choice B is wrong because fetal heart rate does not affect AFP levels.
Choice D is wrong because the placental function does not affect AFP levels directly, but it may affect the levels of other hormones that are measured along with AFP in a quad screen.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The baby’s heart beat is audible by a Doppler stethoscope at 12 weeks of pregnancy.
This is a device that uses sound waves to create an image of the baby’s heart and measure its rate and rhythm.
Some possible explanations for the other choices are:
Choice B is wrong because the baby’s sex can not be determined by ultrasound at 8 weeks of pregnancy.
The external genitalia are not fully developed until around 14 to 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Even then, the accuracy of ultrasound depends on factors such as the position of the baby, the quality of the equipment, and the skill of the sonographer.
Choice C is wrong because the baby’s lungs are not fully mature by 24 weeks of pregnancy.
The lungs are one of the last organs to develop in the fetus and they continue to grow and mature until near term.
The production of surfactant, a substance that helps the lungs expand and prevent collapse, begins around 24 weeks but is not sufficient until around 34 to 36 weeks.
Choice D is wrong because the baby’s eyes do not open and close by 16 weeks of pregnancy.
The eyelids are fused together until around 26 to 28 weeks of pregnancy, when they start to open and close periodically.
The baby can also respond to light and dark stimuli around this time.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
The level of AFP in a pregnant woman’s blood depends on how far along she is in her pregnancy.
AFP levels are normally high in the early weeks of pregnancy and then decline as the pregnancy progresses.
If the AFP level is too high or too low for the gestational age, it may indicate a problem with the baby’s development.
Choice A is wrong because maternal weight does not affect AFP levels.
Choice B is wrong because fetal heart rate does not affect AFP levels.
Choice D is wrong because the placental function does not affect AFP levels directly, but it may affect the levels of other hormones that are measured along with AFP in a quad screen.
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