Educational information only. CEA is a test that should be requested and interpreted by a qualified clinician. It is not a stand-alone test for cancer and is not recommended for general screening. Testing is performed in NATA-accredited laboratories to ISO 15189 standards.

What is CEA?

CEA, or carcinoembryonic antigen, is a protein normally present at very low levels in adults. It can be measured in the blood and has a specific, limited role in medicine, most often in monitoring rather than in diagnosis or screening.

Why it is used carefully

CEA is not specific and is not a screening test. It can be raised by a number of benign factors, notably smoking, as well as by inflammation in the gut and liver. Its main established use is helping clinicians monitor certain already-diagnosed conditions over time, under specialist care, rather than checking for disease in people without symptoms.

What your results can mean

Raised

A raised CEA has several possible explanations, including smoking and benign conditions, and does not diagnose anything on its own. It is meaningful only within a specific clinical context defined by your doctor.

Within the expected range

A CEA in the expected range is one data point among many and is not used to rule conditions in or out by itself.

Reference ranges in Australia

CEA is reported in micrograms per litre (µg/L), with a laboratory-specific reference value, and tends to be higher in smokers. Interpretation belongs with your clinician in the appropriate context.

A note on CEA testing

CEA is not a general screening test and is best used within a defined clinical plan. At Precursor, tumour markers are used only under clinician direction in appropriate circumstances. If you have concerns, the best step is a conversation with your GP or a Precursor clinician about whether this testing is appropriate for you.