Test Catalog

Test Id : GAL1

Not Orderable

GALAD Score, Serum

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Overview

Test Catalog

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Calculation of the GALAD (gender, age, alpha-fetoprotein L3% [AFP-L3], AFP, des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin) model score for hepatocellular carcinoma development in patients with chronic liver disease

Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test

Only orderable as part of a profile. For more information see HCCGS / Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk Panel with GALAD Score, Serum

 

Gender, Age, Alpha-fetoprotein L3% (AFP-L3), AFP, Des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (GALAD) Model Score Calculation

NY State Available
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.

Yes

Reporting Name
Lists a shorter or abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test

GALAD Model Score

Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type validated for testing

Serum

Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing

Only orderable as part of a profile. For more information see HCCGS / Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk Panel with GALAD Score, Serum.

 

Supplies: Sarstedt Aliquot Tube, 5 mL (T914)

Collection Container/Tube: 

Preferred: Serum gel  

Acceptable:  Red top 

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial 

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL 

Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.

Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of sample necessary to provide a clinically relevant result as determined by the Testing Laboratory

0.25 mL

Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia OK
Gross icterus OK

Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the performing laboratory, alternate acceptable temperatures are also included

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Frozen (preferred) 90 days
Refrigerated 5 days

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Calculation of the GALAD (gender, age, alpha-fetoprotein L3% [AFP-L3], AFP, des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin) model score for hepatocellular carcinoma development in patients with chronic liver disease

Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Biomarkers of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) include alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), third electrophoretic form of lentil lectin-reactive AFP (AFP-L3), and des-carboxy-prothrombin (DCP). The GALAD (gender, age, AFP-L3, AFP, des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin) model combines these three biomarkers with the patient's gender and age to estimate the risk of HCC in patients with chronic liver disease based on the following equation: Z = -10.08 + 0.09 x age + 1.67 x sex + 2.34 log(10) (AFP) + 0.04 x AFP - L3 + 1.33 x log(10) (DCP), where sex = 1 for males, 0 for females.

 

The GALAD score is calculated using the lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) when one or more of the following values are below the LLOQ: %L3, Total AFP, or Des-Gamma-Carboxy Prothrombin.. In the event this occurs, the GALAD score is resulted as (<)GALAD score.

 

The GALAD model has been demonstrated to have higher diagnostic accuracy for the detection of HCC when compared to the use AFP, AFP-L3, and DCP markers alone or in combination. The performance of the GALAD score has also been reported to be superior to ultrasound for HCC detection.

Reference Values
Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

Only orderable as part of a profile. For more information see HCCGS / Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk Panel with GALAD Score, Serum

 

Not applicable

Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

Higher GALAD (gender, age, AFP-L3, AFP, des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin) model scores correlate with increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The area under the curve (AUC) of a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the GALAD score was 0.95 for all HCC detection and 0.92 for the detection of early-stage HCC. Additionally, the AUC of the GALAD score (0.95) was higher than that of ultrasound alone for all HCC detection (AUC of 0.82, P <0.01).

 

The sensitivity and specificity performance characteristics of the GALAD score for HCC will be influenced by the selected GALAD score cut-off. For example, at an optimal AUC cutoff of -0.76, the GALAD score had 91% sensitivity and 85% specificity for HCC detection. At a more specific GALAD score cutoff of 0.88, the observed sensitivity was 80% for HCC detection, with an observed specificity of 97%.

 

The GALAD model was developed and validated in patient cohorts with a prevalence of HCC ranging from 35% to 49%. The performance of the model may be altered in populations with different HCC prevalence. In addition, the clinical performance of the GALAD score varies by etiology of HCC and, therefore, may be different in different regions of the world.

Cautions
Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

The total alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and AFP-L3% test values must be obtained using the uTASWako i30 in the GALAD (gender, age, AFP-L3, AFP, des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin) score calculation.

 

Test results cannot be interpreted as absolute evidence for the presence or absence of malignant disease. Total AFP and AFP-L3% values are not interpretable during pregnancy for the investigation of malignant disease.

 

Des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP)-producing tumors other than hepatocellular carcinoma can show elevated DCP values.

 

Medication containing vitamin K preparations may cause a negative bias with DCP values. Medication containing vitamin K antagonist or antibiotic may cause a positive bias with DCP values.

 

In rare cases, some individuals can develop antibodies to mouse or other animal antibodies (often referred to as human anti-mouse antibodies [HAMA] or heterophile antibodies), which may cause interference in some immunoassays. Caution should be used in interpretation of results, and the laboratory should be alerted if the result does not correlate with the clinical presentation.

Clinical Reference
Recommendations for in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Johnson P, Pirrie S, Cox T, et al. The detection of hepatocellular carcinoma using a prospectively developed and validated model based on serological biomarkers. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2014;23(1):144-153

2. Berhane S, Toyota H, Tada T, et al. Role of the GALAD and BALAD-2 serologic models in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and prediction of survival in patients. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatic. 2016;14(6):875-886

3. Yang JD, Addissie BD, Mara KC, et al. GALAD score for hepatocellular carcinoma detection in comparison with liver ultrasound and proposal of GALADUS score. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2019;28(3):531-538. doi:10.1158/1055-9965

4. Leerapun A, Suravarapu S, Bida JP, et al. The utility of serum AFP-L3% in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: Evaluation in a U.S. referral population. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2007;5(3):394-402

5. Durazo FA, Blatt LM, Corey WG, et al. Des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin, alpha-fetoprotein and AFP-L3 in patients with chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008;23(10):1541-1548

6. Chaiteerakij R, Addissie BD, Roberts LR. Update on biomarkers of hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2015;13(2):237-245. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2013.10.038

Method Description
Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference

The GALAD (gender, age, alpha-fetoprotein L3% [AFP-L3], AFP, des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin) model is a statistical model for estimating the likelihood of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic liver disease. The GALAD score is calculated based on gender, age, and measured concentrations of AFP-L3, AFP, and DCP.

PDF Report
Indicates whether the report includes an additional document with charts, images or other enriched information

No

Day(s) Performed
Outlines the days the test is performed. This field reflects the day that the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means that assays are performed multiple times during the day.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Report Available
The interval of time (receipt of sample at Mayo Clinic Laboratories to results available) taking into account standard setup days and weekends. The first day is the time that it typically takes for a result to be available. The last day is the time it might take, accounting for any necessary repeated testing.

Same day/1 to 4 days

Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded

3 months

Performing Laboratory Location
Indicates the location of the laboratory that performs the test

Rochester

Fees
Several factors determine the fee charged to perform a test. Contact your U.S. or International Regional Manager for information about establishing a fee schedule or to learn more about resources to optimize test selection.

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Test Classification
Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR) product.

Not Applicable

LOINC® Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the order and results codes of this test. LOINC values are provided by the performing laboratory.

Test Id Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
GAL1 GALAD Model Score 96450-2
Result Id Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
GAL1 GALAD Model Score 96450-2

Test Setup Resources

Setup Files
Test setup information contains test file definition details to support order and result interfacing between Mayo Clinic Laboratories and your Laboratory Information System.

Excel | PHP Pdf | CMS Pdf

Sample Reports
Normal and Abnormal sample reports are provided as references for report appearance.

Normal Reports | Abnormal Reports

SI Sample Reports
International System (SI) of Unit reports are provided for a limited number of tests. These reports are intended for international account use and are only available through MayoLINK accounts that have been defined to receive them.

SI Normal Reports | SI Abnormal Reports