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Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

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CEA

Geisinger Epic Procedure Code:  LAB1969    Geisinger Epic ID:  6523

SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Specimen type: 

Plasma or serum


Preferred collection container: 
Specimen required: 

2 mL of serum or plasma; minimum 0.5 mL



SPECIMEN PROCESSING
Processing instructions: 

Allow serum to clot. Centrifuge to separate serum or plasma within 2 hours of collection.


Transport temperature: 

Refrigerated (preferred) or frozen.


Specimen stability: 

Refrigerated: 7 days. Frozen: 6 months.


Rejection criteria: 

Stability limits exceeded.



TEST DETAILS
Reference interval: 

0 - 5.2 ng/mL


Additional information: 

Patient specimens containing a human antimouse antibody may interfere with results.


CPT code(s):  82378
Note: The billing party has sole responsibility for CPT coding.  Any questions regarding coding should be directed to the payer being billed.
The CPT codes provided by GML are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only.

Test includes: 

Carcinoembryonic antigen.


Methodology: 
Roche Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay. Patient results determined by assays using different manufacturers or methods may not be comparable.
Synonyms: 

CARCINOEMBRYONIC ANTIGEN, CEA


Clinical significance: 

Increased CEA levels have been detected in patients with primary colorectal cancer and in patients with other malignancies involving the gastrointestinal tract, breast, lung, ovarian, prostatic, liver and pancreatic cancers. CEA levels are useful in in patient prognosis after surgical removal of tumors. CEA levels are not useful in screening the general population.


Doctoral Director(s): 
Hoi-Ying Elsie Yu, PhD, DABCC, FADLM
Sheng-Ying (Margaret) Lo, PhD, DABCC
Review Date:  12/27/2024

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