A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z # |
CEA
Test CodeAlias/See Also
CPT Codes
82378
Preferred Specimen
Green
Minimum Volume
Other Acceptable Specimens
Transport Container
Serum (gold top) tube or Lithium Heparin Plasma (green top) tube
Transport Temperature
Specimen Stability
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Methodology
Chemiluminescence
Setup Schedule
Daily upon receipt
Report Available
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.