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HelpTest Code CEA Carcinoembryonic Antigen
EHR Test Codes
| Test Code | Test Name | |
| Atlas | CEA | CEA |
| Cerner | CEA | Carcinoembryonic Antigen |
Specimen Requirements
Preparation of Patient:
None
Container Type:
Gold Top SST Gel & Clot Activator Tube
Specimen Type:
Serum
Specimen Volume:
1.0 mL of Serum minimum .5 mL of Serum
Specimen Handling/Transport:
Separate serum from cells within 2 hours of collection.
Transport refrigerated 2-8°C
Specimen Stability/Storage:
2 days refrigerated 2-8°C
Performing Laboratory
Munson Medical Center Laboratories
Chemistry Department
Priority, Frequency, & Turnaround
Priority:
Non-Emergent
Frequency:
24 hours 7 days a week
Turnaround:
0 - 1 days
Methodology
Chemiluminescent Immunoassay
Reporting
Reference Range:
0 - 3 ng/mL
Interpretive Data:
Smoking may elevate CEA results. Testing performed by chemiluminescence on a Beckman Coulter DXI/Access platform. Results may not be comparable with tests performed on other manufacturer's methods or platforms.
Critical Decision:
None
Clinical Significance
Patients with confirmed carcinoma frequently have a pretreatment CEA level in the same range as healthy individuals. Elevations in circulating CEA levels may be observed in smokers as well as in patients nonmalignant disease. For these reasons a CEA level, regardless of value, should not be interpreted as absolute evidence for the presence or absence of malignant disease. The CEA level should be used in conjunction with information available from clinical evaluation and other diagnostic procedures. The CEA Assay Should NOT Be Used As A Cancer Screening Test.
Causes of increased CEA values include acute pancreatitis, regional enteritis, malignancy, liver disease, smoking, and pulmonary tuberculosis. Clinical relevance of CEA values are shown in management of patients with colorectal, breast, lung, prostatic, pancreatic and ovarian carcinoma.
CPT Code
82378