Carcino Embryonic Antigen Test

Carcinoembryonic Antigen Test (CEA) is a type of blood test which is used to diagnose various kinds of cancer. This test is basically used to rectify cancers present in intestine and rectum. It is also used after the cancer is diagnosed and helps to determine if the cancer treatment is working or not. An Antigen is a substance that is formed by cancerous cells and is sometimes present in the bloodstream. The CEA test indicates the amount of CEA in your blood. If a very high amount of CEA is still present in the blood, then the test indicates that cancer is gone or has spread to other parts.

Due to this test, no alterations are made in your diet. You can normally eat or drink before or after the test has been taken place. In case, if the cancer conditions already exist and the problem is severe, the doctor will inform the patient about the dietary needs and precautions prior to the test. It is recommended to wear comfortable clothes, preferably sleeveless or half sleeves, so that blood can be taken easily. In many cases, a single CEA test is not sufficient to diagnose a particular condition, so your doctor may perform CEA tests repeatedly to check for changes.

As indicated above, carcinoembryonic antigen test is used to specify the amounts of antigens present in the bloodstream and to diagnose and manage various conditions of cancer. Not all cancers produce CEA. Some cancers which produce CEA are: breast cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer and many more. Normal CEA levels: a normal CEA level is usually less than or equal to 3 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). Abnormal CEA levels: an abnormal CEA level is greater than 3 ng/Ml. Although people with many types of cancer can have CEA levels higher, this does not mean that you have cancer. It can refer to other complications such as chronic smoking, cirrhosis, or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

This test can be done in a clinic or a hospital only under a doctor’s supervision. It is performed in the same way as a normal blood test is performed. The blood is drawn from a vein in your arm, and the process is known as venipuncture. A needle is inserted into the vein, usually in the middle of the arm, to draw the blood into an attached tube. After which the sample is analysed in the laboratory.