| Test Name: | Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) |
| Epic Order Code: | LAB57 | | |
| CPT Code: | 82378 |
| Specimen(s) Type: | Serum; 1.0 mL |
| Acceptable Container(s): |   Tops are gold and red. |
| Testing Schedule: | Monday - Friday |
| Turn Around Time: | STAT: NA |
| | Routine: 1-3 days |
| Collection Information: | No special patient preparation is required. Obtain specimen by standard collection procedures. |
| Transport Information: | Deliver to lab immediately. All specimens must be signed into the laboratory. |
| Reference Clients: | If unable to deliver to the lab within 1 hour, centrifuge the specimen and remove serum from the red cells. Store and transport at 2 - 8° C. Specimen must be received in the lab within 7 days. If longer storage is required, store and transport the sample at -20° C for up to 30 days. |
| Causes for Rejection: | Improperly labeled, incorrect container, contaminated, insufficient quantity, incorrect/delay in transport, hemolysis. |
| Reference Range: | Non-smoker: 0.0 - 3.0 ng/mL |
| | Smoker: 0.0 - 5.0 ng/mL |
| Additional Information: | 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 patients with nonmalignant disease. CEA testing is not recommended as a screening procedure to detect cancer in the general population. |