Carcinoembryonic Antigen CEA Test

Carcino embryonic antigen test is done to monitor patients of malignancy especially colorectal and gastrointestinal cancer.  
Serial monitoring of CEA is done to compare concentrations before and after treatment and also to establish a possible recurrence. Thus it can help assessing the effectiveness of chemotherapy or radiotherapy
This test is not a effective tool to diagnose cancer

carcino embryonic antigen test measures  CEA a glycoprotein, in blood of the patients. Levels increase in patients with certain type of cancers 

The test analyzes a glycoprotein called CEA in the patients' blood. Patients with certain types of cancer experience higher levels.

Carcino embryonic antigen test requires a blood sample. A tourniquet (elastic) band is placed tightly on the upper arm. The patient is then asked to make a fist. This helps in the build-up of blood filling the veins. The skin is disinfected before needle insertion and the blood sample is collected in vacutainer. 

The test requires a blood sample. A tourniquet (elastic band) is tightly tied to the upper arm. The patient is then asked to make a fist. This facilitates the blood filling of the veins. The skin is cleansed before the needle insertion, and the blood sample is collected using a vacutainer.

The results of carcino embryonic antigen test when done over an interval help monitor condition of the patient and his response to treatment. However, a gross increase of CEA to >20 ng/mL in a patient with compatible symptoms are  suggestive of the presence of cancer. 
CEA levels fall after successful treatment to normal levels in 1-4 months
Levels may increase in certain non-cancerous conditions like smoking, hepatic disease, trauma, ulcerative colitis, pancreatitis, cirrhosis,  COPD, Crohn's disease and hypothyroidism. Though the level in such cases is below 10 ng/ mL 
Patients should do a follow-up testing preferably through the same laboratory as different assays can give different result values on the same sample

CEA results may be elevated due to one or more of the following reasons:

• Smoking.
• Liver disease.
• Trauma.
• Ulcerative colitis.
• Pancreatitis.
• Cirrhosis.
• COPD.
• Crohn's disease.

Hypothyroidism

A person who has received a cancer diagnosis might require this test. The doctor performs the test on the patient before starting the therapy and after that. This process will help the doctor assess the efficacy of the patient's treatment. After the therapy is over, the patient might also have a CEA test. The test can assist in determining whether cancer has returned or not.

This test can be taken:

• After the diagnosis to help assist the doctor in choosing the best course of action.
• During treatment to help assess the effectiveness of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, or other treatments.
• Following therapy to determine if cancer has returned.

Nothing needs to be done in advance. However, a person must inform the physician if he/she:

• Smoke.
• Pregnant.

Take aspirin or other medications that could cause bleeding

1. CEA test
2. Carcinoembryonic Antigen
3. Tumor marker

It is frequently used in conjunction with other immunohistochemical tests, such as those for BerEp4, WT1, and calretinin. This is because even monoclonal antibodies to CEA have some degree of cross-reactivity and can occasionally produce false positive results.