Category
SPECIAL CHEMISTRY.
Sub Category
TUMOR MARKER
Synonyms/Aliases
EMBRYONIC CARCINOMA ANTIGEN
Abbreviations
CEA
Type
INDIVIDUAL TEST
Results
RESULTS READY/ REPORTED IN 2 -3 HOURS
Method
IMMUNOASSAY
Temp
REFRIGERATED
Setup
DAILY
Components Parameters
NOT APPLICABLE
PRE-ANALYTIC CONSIDERATIONS
Test Ordering Instructions
FILL OUT TEST REQUEST FORM FULLY & LEGIBLY. DETAILED SPECIFIC HISTORY IS REQUIRED E.G. EXACT INDICATION FOR DRUG MONITORING, DRUG HISTORY (I.E. DOSE, ROUTE OF ADMINISTRATION, DURATION SINCE TREATMENT WAS STARTED OR DOSE ADJUSTED, CONCURRENT MEDICATION), HEIGHT, WEIGHT.
Patient preparation
NO PREPARATION REQUIRED
Sample type
SERUM
Container/ preservative
SERUM SEPARATOR TUBE (SST/ GEL) OR PLAIN (RED TOP) VACUTAINER.
Sample volume
AT LEAST 2ML
Rejection criteria
LABELING ISSUE (UNLABELED/ MISLABELED); MISSING REQUEST FORM; MISMATCH BETWEEN REQUEST FORM & SAMPLE DETAILS; MISSING AGE/ GENDER; WRONG SAMPLE TYPE; INSUFFICIENT SAMPLE.
Other Instructions
CENTRIFUGE SST (SERUM GEL TUBES) WITHIN 1-2 HOURS OF COLLECTION. CENTRIFUGE RED TOP VACUTAINERS AND ALIQUOT SERUM WITHIN 1-2 HOURS OF COLLECTION. THE SEPARATION VIAL MUST BE LABELED WITH AT LEAST 2 PATIENT IDENTIFIERS AND THE SAMPLE TYPE.
Reference intervals
APPROPRIATE VALUES ARE PROVIDED ON THE REPORT.
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.
Test Limitations/ Confounders
LEVELS MAY BE ELEVATED IN MULTIPLE BENIGN CONDITIONS E.G. SMOKING, HEPATITIS, LIVER CIRRHOSIS, EMPHYSEMA, PANCREATITIS, INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE ETC. IMMUNOASSAY INTERFERENCE CAN GIVE RISE TO SPURIOUS RESULTS. SUCH INTERFERENCE CAN ARISE FROM PRESENCE OF HETEROPHILE ANTIBODIES, ANTI-ANIMAL ANTIBODIES, AUTOANTIBODIES, PARAPROTEINS, BIOTIN ETC. RESULTS SHOULD ALWAYS BE CORRELATED WITH CLINICAL FINDINGS.