Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)

Preferred Specimen(s): 1 mL serum

Transport Container: Plastic screw-cap vial

Transport Temperature:

• Refrigerated (cold packs)
• Ambient 5 days
• Frozen acceptable,
• Refrigerated 14 days

Methodology: Chemiluminescence

Clinical Significance: Increased serum CEA levels have been detected in persons with primary colorectal cancer and in patients with other malignancies involving the gastrointestinal tract, breast, lung, ovarian, prostatic, liver and pancreatic cancers. Elevated serum CEA levels have also been detected in patients with nonmalignant disease, especially patients who are older or who are smokers. CEA levels are not useful in screening the general population for undetected cancers. However, CEA levels provide important information about patient prognosis, recurrence of tumors after surgical removal, and effectiveness of therapy.

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