Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA), Serum
Use
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a glycoprotein normally found in embryonic entodermal epithelium. Increased levels may be found in patients with primary colorectal cancer or other malignancies including medullary thyroid carcinoma and breast, gastrointestinal tract, liver, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostatic cancers. Monitoring CEA levels can help in assessing the effectiveness of chemotherapy or radiation treatment, and serial monitoring should begin prior to therapy to verify post-therapy decrease in concentration and to establish a baseline for evaluating possible recurrence.
Special Instructions
Patient should not take multivitamins or dietary supplements containing biotin (vitamin B7) for 12 hours before specimen collection. Forms: If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send an Oncology Test Request (T729) with the specimen.
Limitations
Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) concentrations should not be used to screen asymptomatic individuals for neoplastic disease. The diagnostic efficacy in high-risk groups is not established. Values are method-dependent; the same method should be used for serial monitoring. Do not interpret values as absolute evidence of malignancy presence or absence. Consider clinical evaluation and other diagnostic procedures. Antianimal antibodies may interfere, producing unreliable results.
FDA ApprovedNew York Approved
Methodology
Immunoassay (Immunoenzymatic Assay)
Biomarkers
LOINC Codes
- 83085-1
- 83085-1
Result Turnaround Time
1-3 days
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Serum
Volume
0.6 mL
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Container
Preferred: Serum gel, Acceptable: Red top
Collection Instructions
Within 2 hours of collection, centrifuge the specimen. For serum gel tubes, serum may sit on gel refrigerated but must be aliquoted within 7 days. For red top tubes, aliquot serum into a plastic vial within 2 hours of collection.
Patient Preparation
For 12 hours before specimen collection, patient should not take multivitamins or dietary supplements (eg, hair, skin, and nail supplements) containing biotin (vitamin B7).
Causes for Rejection
Gross hemolysis
Stability Requirements
| Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
| Refrigerated | 7 days |
| Frozen | 90 days |