CEA, CSF

Test Code

17420

Preferred Specimen

3 mL CSF collected in a sterile plastic leak-proof CSF tube or vial

Minimum Volume

2 mL

Transport Temperature

Frozen

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 7 days
Refrigerated: 28 days
Frozen: 28 days

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

Gross hemolysis

Methodology
Immunoassay (IA)

Setup Schedule

Set up: Tues-Sat; Report available: 1-2 days

Reference Range

<2.0 ng/mL

Clinical Significance

CEA is a tumor marker that is useful to monitor patients with persistent, or for recurrent or metastatic colonic carcinoma. As many as 30% of patients with breast, lung, hepatocellular, and pancreatic carcinoma also have elevated concentrations of CEA. Individuals who smoke may have a slightly higher baseline than non-smokers.

Performing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute
14225 Newbrook Drive
Chantilly, VA 20153

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.