What is a CA 19-9 blood test for?
This test measures the amount of a protein called CA 19-9 (cancer antigen 19-9) in the blood. CA 19-9 is a type of tumor marker. Tumor markers are substances made by cancer cells or by normal cells in response to cancer in the body. Healthy people can have small amounts of CA 19-9 in their blood.
What is a high level of CA 19-9?
Here is what your results may mean: If your CA 19-9 is less than 37 U/mL, you may not have cancer. If your CA 19-9 is above 37 U/mL, you may have cancer of the pancreas, liver, gallbladder, lung, colon, or stomach.
How much does a CA 19-9 test cost?
Truty says, noting that the test costs about $170 — pennies on the dollar relative to the overall cost of a patient’s cancer care. “Further, patients with any elevation of CA 19-9 should be considered for preoperative chemotherapy to eliminate this risk.”
How long does a CA 19-9 test take?
However, CA 19-9 may also be elevated with the presence of other cancers. Preparation: No fasting required. Stop biotin consumption at least 72 hours prior to the collection. Test Results: 1-2 days.
Is fasting required for CA 19-9?
No Fasting Required. No other special preparations required.
What is a normal tumor marker?
Normal range: < 2.5 ng/ml. Normal range may vary somewhat depending on the brand of assay used. Levels > 10 ng/ml suggest extensive disease and levels > 20 ng/ml suggest metastatic disease.
How accurate is CA19-9?
Overall, an elevated serum CA 19-9 level has a sensitivity of 79–81% and a specificity of 82–90% for diagnosing pancreatic cancer in symptomatic patients.
What does a tumor marker indicate?
A tumor marker is anything present in or produced by cancer cells or other cells of the body in response to cancer or certain benign (noncancerous) conditions that provides information about a cancer, such as how aggressive it is, what kind of treatment it may respond to, or whether it is responding to treatment.
What does a CA19-9 blood test look for?
The ca-19-9 blood test is a medical health test used to determine the presence of a specific marker in the blood. This marker, known as the ca-19-9 marker corresponds to cancer specific to the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ located in the abdomen which produces juices used for digestion.
What does CA 19-9 stand for?
The meaning of CA 19-9 abbreviation is “carcinoembryonic antigen, prostate antigen, carcinoantigen 19-9”.
What causes elevated ca 19?
The list of medical condition causes of Increased carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (Elevated CA 19-9) includes: Pancreatic carcinoma. Jaundice. Cholangitis. Choledocholithiasis. Chronic pancreatitis.
What is a normal CA 19 level?
The normal values for CA 19 – 9 are 0-37 U/ml, and this range is unisex for all age groups.