CEA

CEA stands for carcinoembryonic antigen. CEA is a protein that is a type of "tumor marker." Tumor markers are substances that are often made by cancer cells or by normal cells in response to cancer.

A CEA test is mostly used in people who have been diagnosed with cancers that often increase CEA levels. It's most commonly used in colorectal cancer.

Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine

Normal range

3 published ranges, each from a named source

3.8 ng/mL drawn: 20 y – 69 y · ARUP Laboratories Test Directory

20 y – 69 y: 0–3.8 ng/mL

Ranges from ARUP Laboratories Test Directory.

All source ranges (3)

Source	Sex	Age	Range
American Board of Internal Medicine (Laboratory Test Reference Ranges)	All	all ages	<2.5 ng/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory	All	20 y – 69 y	0–3.8 ng/mL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog)	All	all ages	<5 ng/mL

What an abnormal result can be associated with

A high result: Elevated circulating CEA concentration

Associations from LOINC2HPO (Human Phenotype Ontology). This is reference information, not a diagnosis: only a clinician can interpret your result in context.

details

Sample: Serum or plasma · LOINC
Listed under: Breast Cancer · Colorectal Cancer · Liver Cancer · Lung Cancer · Male Breast Cancer · Ovarian Cancer · Pancreatic Cancer · Prostate Cancer · Stomach Cancer · Thyroid Cancer
Code: LOINC 2039-6 · ng/mL
Also known as: Carcinoembryonic Ag, CEA, Tumor marker, Antigen, Antigens

See your own CEA Add a lab report and it is drawn against your lab's range, over time. Upload a Blood Test