Test Name
CARCINO EMBRYONIC ANTIGEN (CEA)
Aliases
EMBRYONIC CARCINOMA ANTIGEN
Abbreviations
CEA
Test Classification
INDIVIDUAL
Department
SPECIAL CHEMISTRY
Sub Department
-
TAT Category
BUSINESS (WORKING) TIME
Estimated TAT
2
TAT Units
HOURS
Test Requirements
Serum in plain tube (red top) or SST tube (yellow top) or in a separation vial. Centrifuge tubes within 1 hour. Separate centrifuged serum in plain tubes within 1 hour.
SHIPPING/ TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENTS
Shipping Temperature: Refrigerated
ANALYTE STABILITY
Room Temperature: 1 day at 20-25°C │ Refrigerated: 7 DAYS at 2-8°C │ Frozen: 6 months at -20°C
Clinical Utility
Monitoring treatment response, disease progression & assessing recurrence in colorectal cancer. Levels may also be elevated in other cancers e.g. gastric, esophageal, gall bladder, pancreatic, breast, lung, medullary thyroid carcinoma etc.
Last Review
26th Feb 2026