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Test ID CEA Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA), Serum

Important Note

Please contact Chemistry lab before adding this test to a prior sample.

Useful For

Monitoring colorectal cancer and selected other cancers such as medullary thyroid carcinoma

 

May be useful in assessing the effectiveness of chemotherapy or radiation treatment

 

This test is not useful for screening the general population for undetected cancers.

Method Name

Immunoenzymatic Assay

Reporting Name

Carcinoembryonic Ag (CEA), S

Specimen Type

Serum


Specimen Required


Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 0.6 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Serum gel tubes should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.

2. Red-top tubes should be centrifuged, and the serum aliquoted into a plastic vial within 2 hours of collection.


Specimen Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 7 days
  Frozen  90 days

Reference Values

Nonsmokers: ≤3.0 ng/mL

Some smokers may have elevated CEA, usually <5.0 ng/mL.

Serum markers are not specific for malignancy, and values may vary by method.

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Friday

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

CPT Code Information

82378

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
CEA Carcinoembryonic Ag (CEA), S 83085-1

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
CEA Carcinoembryonic Ag (CEA), S 83085-1

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

Report Available

1 to 3 days

NY State Approved

Yes

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send an Oncology Test Request (T729) with the specimen.