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Test Code CEA Carcinoembryonic Antigen

Important Note

This test may be affected by biotin interference. Patients on high dose biotin (5mg/day or more) should not have samples drawn until at least 24 hours after the last biotin administration.

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Plasma

Preferred Specimen: Li-Heparin Mint Green Top

Other Acceptable specimens: Serum/Gold Top, Serum/Red Top

Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions

UCMC Onsite Instructions: 

  • Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately. 

 

UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions: 

  • Samples should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.
  • Centrifuge specimens at >2500 x g for 10 minutes at room temperature.
  • Aliquot sample into plastic transport tube containing a minimum of 0.2 mL of specimen.
  • Samples must be sent room temperature at 15-25oC.

Rejection Criteria

  • Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits. 
  • Specimens that are clotted or grossly hemolyzed.
  • Specimens that were transported unspun/whole blood and draw time is greater than 6 hours

Reference Values

Test

Age

Sex

Reference Range

CEA

All

All

<3 ng/mL

Critical Values

Analyte

Unit

Low

High

Age

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

CPT Codes

82378

LOINC Codes

2039-6

Volume

Preferred Volume: 0.5 mL

Minimum Volume: 0.2 mL

Specimen Stability

Storage Temperature

Stability

Room Temperature

7 days

Refrigerated

14 days

Frozen

6 months

Collection Instructions

Collect specimen per standard laboratory collection procedures. 

 

Test Components

Carcinoembryonic Antigen

Clinical Indications

Immunoassay for the in vitro quantitative determination of carcinoembryonic antigen in human serum and plasma. The Elecsys CEA assay is further indicated for serial measurement of CEA to aid in the management of cancer patients. The main indication for CEA determinations is the follow-up and therapy-management of colorectal carcinoma.

Methodology

Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) (Roche Diagnostics)

Additional Information

  • Results should always be assessed in conjunction with patient's medical history, clinical examination and other findings.
  • The measured CEA value of a patient's sample can vary depending on the testing procedure used. CEA values determined on patient samples by different testing procedures cannot be directly compared with one another and could be the cause of erroneous medical interpretations.
  • CEA determinations are not recommended for cancer-screening in the general population. CEA concentrations within the normal range do not exclude the possible presence of a malignant disease. The formation of CEA is repressed after birth, and accordingly serum CEA values are hardly measurable in healthy adults.
  • High CEA concentrations are frequently found in cases of colorectal adenocarcinoma. Slight to moderate CEA elevations (rarely > 10 ng/mL) occur in 20-50 % of benign diseases of the intestine, the pancreas, the liver, and the lungs (e.g. liver cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, pancreatitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's Disease, emphysema). Smokers also have elevated CEA values.

Turnaround Time

Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory. 

 

STAT Turnaround Time: Not available as STAT test

Routine Turnaround Time: up to 4 hours

Testing Schedule:  24/7

Synonyms/Keyword Search

Embryonic Carcinoma Antigen

Last Review Date

8/19/2024