Carcinoembryonic Antigen

Overview
Department	Biochemistry
Test Code	TCEA
Synonyms	CEA
Availability	Monday - Friday Contact the lab if urgent testing is required
Turnaround Time	2 hours – 3 days
Stability – Add test	24 hours
Specimen Requirements
Specimen	Serum
Preferred	Yellow-Top or Red-Top tube
Acceptable
Unacceptable	Plasma
Specimen Transportation
Paediatric Requirements	0.5 mL blood in Red-Top tube
Aliquot Requirements
Sample	Serum
Preferred Volume	0.5 mL
Minimum Volume	100 µL
Aliquot Transportation
Clinical Information
Reference Intervals	0.0 - 5.0 µg/L
Test Method	Abbott Alinity CI analyser, CMIA method.
Advanced Notice	Not required
Patient Preparation	Not required
Comments
CEA is a marker for colorectal, gastrointestinal, lung and breast carcinomas.  CEA levels are not an absolute test for evidence of malignancy and must be used in conjunction with the clinical evaluation of the patient and other diagnostic evidence. Healthy non-smokers have CEA levels less than 3.0 µg/mL, while 6% of otherwise healthy smokers have CEA levels up to 5.0 µg/mL.  CEA is not suitable as a screening test for the primary diagnosis of tumours. For the serial monitoring of tumours, tumour markers should be tested in the same laboratory.

Owner	Clair Crossley (Crossley1)
Last reviewed	14.09.2026
Next review	14.09.2027 (OK)