Carcinoembryonic Antigen
|
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 [1] |
3.4% |
|
36.2% |
|
|
Minimum retesting interval |
Requests made within 14 days of a previous result on a patient are intervened |
