Assay

Carcinoembryonic Antigen

Key Words

CEA

Specimen Collection

Serum (brown), Plasma (orange)

Turnaround Time

72hrs

Test Indications

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is used as a tumour marker for colorectal cancer. Its use is not indicated in screening or diagnosis, but it can be used as a prognostic indicator, detecting recurrence and monitoring treatment.

Limitations/Interferences

No known common methodological interferences. This CEA methodology has a 0.7% cross reactivity with the meconium antigen (NCA2). CEA concentrations can also be elevated in breast, gastric, hepatocellular, oesophageal or ovarian cancers. Benign conditions which may cause elevated concentrations include chronic liver disease, chronic renal failure, colitis, diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome, jaundice and respiratory diseases (e.g. pleural inflammation, pneumonia). Smoking can also cause mild elevations.

Reference Range

<5 ug/L

Analytical Error

3.4%

Reference Change Value

36.2%

Minimum retesting interval

Requests made within 14 days of a previous result on a patient are intervened