What is cea test normal range?

The CEA test is designed specifically to monitor the response of cancers to therapies prescribed by the doctor. This is especially used in patients recovering from colon cancer. The tests may also be used to check for recurrences of the disease.

CEA is a marker which is indicative of cancer, but not all cancers produce this protein. It is important to note that a test that is positive for CEA may not always be indicative of cancers. It is due to this reason that this test is not used to screen for cancers.

The CEA blood test normal range is from 0 to 2.5 micrograms per liter. In people who smoke regularly, this normal range is slightly increased. For them, the CEA blood test range is 0 to 5 micrograms per liter. Values slightly higher than this are accepted as normal. However, if the CEA values are considerably higher, further testing may be prescribed by the doctor to look for possible cancerous growths in the various parts of the body. Further testing is required because abnormal CEA levels do not always indicate presence of cancers.

While normal value ranges differ from one lab to another, 0-2.5 micrograms per liter is generally accepted as the universal normal range for CEA markers.

Submitted by N on January 27, 2012 at 05:04

What are Normal CEA Levels?

CEA is a protein marker indicative of several types of cancers, especially colon cancer. The CEA normal levels are different for smokers and nonsmokers. Usually, for adult nonsmokers, the normal CEA levels range from 0 to 2.5 mcg/l. For adult smokers, the levels are slightly higher, and normal levels range from 0 to 5.0 mcg/l. This difference in normal values is because smokers usually produce more CEA than nonsmokers. However, nonsmokers, who are constantly in close contact with secondhand smoke may also have high CEA levels, without really having any kind of cancer.

For those who have CEA levels higher than 5.0 mcg/l, the test is usually indicative of cancer. However, in some cases, people may have higher levels of CEA without having cancers in their body. CEA levels that are around 20 mcg/l or higher, may be indicative of severe cancers that have metastasized. However, those with inflammatory conditions may also have high levels of CEA. Further tests are immediately ordered by the doctor if the test results are in the positive range. For those who have cancer, the CEA tests are usually prescribed to check for recurrences. The tests may also be used to track the severity of the medical condition or evaluate the efficiency of a given treatment for cancer.

Submitted by N on January 18, 2012 at 11:37

Carcinoembryonic Antigen

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a protein that is found in many types of cells. It is associated with tumors or a developing fetus. Blood levels of this protein disappear after birth. In adults, CEA may be a possible sign of cancer. The CEA test is performed to monitor the severity of cancer or tumors in the patients. The values obtained after the CEA test indicates the response of body to the therapy. So, CEA values are used as a marker mainly for colon cancer. They are also used for breast cancer, lung cancer, stomach cancers, and liver cancer. If the CEA test is positive it doesn't always imply that the patient is suffering from some form of cancer. So a confirmatory test is usually performed after the positive CEA test.

When the tumors or cancer is in its early stage, the CEA values observed are slightly higher, whereas in patients with advanced tumors the CEA values are likely to be very high. The elevated concentration of CEA may indicate that a cancer is present. But increased CEA levels may also indicate non-cancer conditions such as inflammation, liver cirrhosis, breast disease, and peptic ulcer. This means elevated CEA levels are suggestive, but not diagnostic of cancer,

Generally, it is found that the CEA values are higher in smokers than in non-smokers. However, smokers can have CEA values up to twice the normal range when compared to non-smokers and yet not have cancer. For the CEA test, a blood sample is taken using a needle which is inserted in a vein in the arm. CEA is only good for reference; you have to take other tests such as a CT scan, ultrasound or PET to confirm a case.

The test helps to determine whether cancer is present in the body. When the symptoms suggest the possibility of cancer, the individual must take a CEA test before starting the cancer treatment. It is recommended to take the test during the intervals of the therapy and even after the cancer therapy to monitor the condition. A decreasing CEA level means that the body is responding well to the treatment. A stable or increasing CEA level may mean that the tumor is growing. A serial CEA measurement over a period of time shows the trends in the progression or regression of the disease. When the CEA level is abnormally high before surgery or other treatment, it is expected to fall to normal following successful surgery.

Submitted by M T on June 1, 2010 at 09:09