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Test Code Billings Clinic: 4334 Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA), Serum

Performing Laboratory

Billings Clinic Laboratory: Chemistry

Useful For

  • Monitoring colorectal cancer and selected other cancers such as medullary thyroid carcinoma
  • May be useful in assessing the effectiveness of chemotherapy or radiation treatment
  • Carcinoembryonic antigen levels are not useful in screening the general population for undetected cancers

Methodology

Chemiluminescent Immunoassay

Specimen Requirements

Serum

Serum should be physically separated from cells as soon as possible with a maximum limit of two hours from the time of collection.

  • Draw blood in a plain, red-top tube(s) or a serum gel tube(s).
  • Spin down and send 1.0 mL of serum frozen

Storage/Stability

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Serum Refrigerated 2 days
  Ambient 8 hours
  Frozen (preferred) 1 month

 

Reject Due To

  • Specimens frozen/thawed more than once
  • Gross lipemia
  • Specimens other than serum

Reference Values

0.0 - 3.0 ng/mL


(Smoking may increase values.)

Day(s) Test Set Up

Daily

Test Classification and CPT Coding

82378 - Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)

 

LCD or NCD test. ICD-10 code is required for this test. When appropriate, obtain a properly executed ABN and submit the ABN with test order(s). See “Medical Necessity and Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN) Policy and Form” under "Resources” for a copy of a form and additional information.

LOINC Code Information

Reporting Name LOINC Code
CEA 2039-6