Carcinoembryonic Antigen
Private CEA testing in London for £49, measuring one tumour-associated marker with laboratory results expected in around 1 day.
Turnaround time
1 business day
Biomarkers count
1
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Overview of the Carcinoembryonic Antigen Test
The Carcinoembryonic Antigen blood test measures CEA, a tumour-associated glycoprotein that is used principally in the monitoring of selected cancers.
The test assesses 1 tumour-associated marker: Carcino Embryonic Antigen.
CEA is produced at high levels during fetal development and is normally present only at relatively low concentrations in adults.
Certain cancers can increase CEA production.
The marker is particularly associated with colorectal cancer, although elevations can also occur with other adenocarcinomas.
Its strongest clinical role is not general cancer screening.
CEA is most useful when a person already has a relevant cancer diagnosis and the marker was elevated before treatment.
Serial measurements can then help clinicians monitor treatment response or investigate possible recurrence.
CEA has important limitations.
A normal CEA result does not exclude cancer.
Many early cancers do not produce a significant rise, and some advanced cancers also do not produce CEA.
A raised result does not automatically mean cancer is present.
Smoking can increase CEA, and non-malignant conditions such as liver disease, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease and some respiratory conditions can also cause elevation.
The trend over time can therefore be more informative than one isolated result.
CEA should always be interpreted alongside the clinical history, imaging and other investigations appropriate to the underlying condition.
It should not be presented as a standalone general cancer-detection blood test.
What Does the Carcinoembryonic Antigen Test Check?
The test measures circulating CEA, a tumour-associated marker used particularly during monitoring of colorectal and selected other cancers. This test measures 1 specialist biomarker.
Carcino Embryonic Antigen
Measures CEA, a tumour-associated glycoprotein used particularly for monitoring colorectal cancer and selected other adenocarcinomas when interpreted within the appropriate clinical context.
Who May Benefit From the Carcinoembryonic Antigen Test?
CEA is most useful when there is a specific clinical reason for monitoring a tumour-associated marker rather than as a general cancer screen.
People previously diagnosed with colorectal cancer - Serial CEA measurement can contribute to treatment monitoring and surveillance.
People whose CEA was elevated before cancer treatment - The marker can be particularly useful when an individual baseline has already been established.
People undergoing monitoring after colorectal cancer surgery - Changes over time can contribute to specialist surveillance.
People receiving treatment for a CEA-producing cancer - Trends may provide supplementary information about response.
People with a previous unexplained raised CEA result - Repeat testing can determine whether the elevation persists.
People with abnormal imaging under specialist review - CEA may provide additional context in selected cases.
People undergoing clinician-directed tumour-marker monitoring - The result is most useful where the clinical purpose has already been defined.
People who understand the limitations of tumour-marker testing - CEA cannot independently diagnose or exclude cancer.
How to Prepare
Do not change prescribed cancer treatment or other medication solely to alter a tumour-marker result.
Where CEA is being monitored over time, comparison using the same laboratory method can make trends easier to interpret.
Symptoms and Reasons to Consider the Carcinoembryonic Antigen Test
CEA does not correspond to one specific symptom pattern and should not replace investigation of concerning symptoms.
A previous colorectal cancer diagnosis - CEA can form part of structured follow-up where clinically appropriate.
A previous raised CEA result - Serial testing can help determine whether concentrations are rising, stable or falling.
Monitoring during cancer treatment - Trends can provide supplementary information about treatment response.
Surveillance after cancer surgery - CEA may be used alongside imaging and clinical follow-up.
An abnormal scan requiring further specialist assessment - Tumour markers can sometimes provide additional context.
Persistent bowel symptoms under clinical investigation - Appropriate endoscopy, imaging or other investigations remain more important than CEA alone.
Unexplained weight loss under medical assessment - CEA should only be one small component of a wider diagnostic pathway.
Clinician-directed monitoring of another CEA-producing cancer - Selected adenocarcinomas can also produce the marker.
CEA is not suitable as a standalone general cancer screening test.
Normal CEA does not rule out colorectal or other cancer, while raised CEA can occur for benign reasons.
Persistent rectal bleeding, unexplained weight loss, change in bowel habit, a new mass or other concerning symptoms require appropriate clinical investigation regardless of the CEA result.
How to Book Your Carcinoembryonic Antigen Test
The Carcinoembryonic Antigen test can be booked privately for focused measurement of CEA.
Choose the Carcinoembryonic Antigen
Select the individual CEA blood test online.
Select your sample collection option
Choose an in-clinic blood draw or professional home or hotel phlebotomy where suitable.
Attend your appointment
A trained healthcare professional collects the required venous blood sample.
Laboratory analysis
Your serum undergoes laboratory measurement of Carcino Embryonic Antigen.
Receive your results securely
Your authorised result is delivered securely and can be compared with previous CEA measurements where appropriate.
When Will I Receive My Results?
The specialist laboratory turnaround for Carcino Embryonic Antigen is approximately 1 day after laboratory receipt.
CEA is routinely processed by tumour-marker laboratories.
The sample undergoes laboratory analysis, quality-control procedures and result authorisation.
Turnaround begins when the specimen reaches the laboratory rather than necessarily from the exact time of collection.
Understanding Your Results
The result shows the concentration of CEA in the blood and should be interpreted against the laboratory reference range.
A raised CEA result can occur with malignant and non-malignant conditions.
Colorectal cancer is the malignancy with which CEA is most strongly associated clinically, but the marker can also rise in other adenocarcinomas.
Smoking can cause higher baseline CEA concentrations.
Benign liver, gastrointestinal and respiratory conditions can also increase the marker.
A normal result does not exclude cancer.
CEA is often normal in early colorectal cancer and is not produced in significant amounts by every tumour.
When CEA is being used for monitoring, the trend is particularly important.
A consistent rise from an established baseline can be more clinically meaningful than one isolated mildly elevated result.
Any significant change should therefore be reviewed alongside imaging, symptoms and the original cancer history.
Why Book With London Blood Tests?
London Blood Tests provides private CEA testing for people requiring focused tumour-marker measurement and monitoring.
Measures CEA directly - The test assesses the exact Carcino Embryonic Antigen biomarker.
Particularly relevant to colorectal cancer monitoring - CEA is widely used in surveillance and treatment monitoring where clinically appropriate.
Useful for serial measurement - Trends over time can provide more information than one isolated result.
Can complement imaging and clinical follow-up - CEA is interpreted as part of a wider monitoring pathway.
Rapid laboratory turnaround - Results are expected approximately 1 day after laboratory receipt.
Professional blood collection - Clinic and suitable home or hotel phlebotomy appointments are available.
Broader tumour-marker profiles are available - Additional markers can be measured where clinically appropriate.
Clear pricing - The Carcinoembryonic Antigen test costs £49.
Private Carcinoembryonic Antigen Blood Test in London
London Blood Tests provides private Carcinoembryonic Antigen testing for people requiring measurement of CEA.
The test costs £49 and assesses 1 specialist biomarker: Carcino Embryonic Antigen.
Results are expected approximately 1 day after laboratory receipt.
CEA is principally a monitoring marker and should not be used as a standalone test to diagnose or exclude cancer.