CEA

Test Code

CEA

Alias/See Also

Carcinoembryonic Antigen

CPT Codes
82378

Preferred Specimen

Green

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Other Acceptable Specimens

Lithium Heparin Plasma (green top) tube

Transport Container

Serum (gold top) tube or Lithium Heparin Plasma (green top) tube

Transport Temperature

Room Temperature or Refrigeration

Specimen Stability

Room Temperature - 1 day; Refrigerated - 7 days

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Turbidity, Quantity Not Sufficient, IV contamination

Methodology
Chemiluminescence

Setup Schedule

Daily upon receipt

Report Available

Upon completion of analysis

Reference Range

0 - 3.0 ng/mL

Clinical Significance

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of approximately 180,000 daltons. CEA is present in normal serum at low concentrations. Originally thought to be specific for digestive tract cancers it may also be elevated in other malignancies as well as in some nonmalignant disorders and behaviors. CEA testing has become widely accepted in the management of cancer patients. A CEA concentration which falls steadily to reach normal concentrations suggests a good prognosis while an increasing concentration is indicative of treatment failure and a poor prognosis. Clinical relevance has been shown in the follow-up management of patients with colorectal, breast, lung, prostatic, pancreatic and ovarian carcinoma. Prognostic significance has been suggested for preoperative CEA concentrations in patients with colorectal, breast and lung carcinoma. The CEA test is not recommended as a screening procedure for detection of cancer in the general population or in an otherwise asymptomatic patient but rather as an adjunctive test to aid in predicting prognosis and in management of cancer patients.

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.