CEA Test
Sourced reference. This entry is compiled from MedlinePlus and is reproduced for reference rather than written by eMed7. Reference ranges differ between laboratories — always read a result against the range printed on your own report.
CEA stands for carcinoembryonic antigen. CEA is a protein that is a type of 'tumor marker.' Tumor markers are substances that are often made by cancer cells or by normal cells in response to cancer. High levels of CEA are normal in healthy, unborn babies.
After birth, CEA levels become very low or disappear completely. So, healthy adults should have little or no CEA in their bodies. Cancers that may cause high levels of CEA include cancers of the: Colon and rectum (colorectal or bowel cancer); Prostate; Ovary; Lung; Thyroid; Liver; Pancreas; Breast; If you've been diagnosed with a cancer that can cause high CEA levels, CEA testing may help your health care provider learn more about your cancer and chance of recovery.
The test is often used with other tests to check if cancer treatment is working. CEA tests are not used to screen for or diagnose cancer. That's because: Cancers that often cause high CEA levels don't always cause high levels.
You can have normal CEA test results even though you have one of these cancers.; Many other health problems that aren't cancer can make CEA levels rise, including certain conditions that affect your liver, digestion, or breathing.; Most CEA tests use a sample of your blood to measure your CEA level. Sometimes the test uses a sample of fluid from your spine, chest, or abdomen (belly), but this is less common.
Why this test is done
If you've been diagnosed with a type of cancer that can cause high CEA levels, you may need CEA testing:
- Before treatment to:
- Help understand how serious your cancer is.
- Help guide treatment decisions.
- Get a measurement of your CEA level before treatment to compare with CEA levels after treatment.
- During cancer treatment to see if the treatment working.
- After treatment to check whether cancer has come back. You may need to have tests on a regular schedule.
How to prepare
For a CEA blood test, you usually don't need to prepare. If you smoke, you may need to stop for a while before your test. That's because smoking increases CEA levels.
Sample type
Blood
Other names for this test
CEA assay, CEA blood test, carcinoembryonic antigen test
Full library entry
Reference ranges, sample type, and citations for this marker.
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- ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK578172— MedlinePlus
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Educational content only. This entry describes what a test measures and how published reference ranges are defined. It is not a diagnosis, does not interpret your personal results, and is not a substitute for a qualified doctor.