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Test Code CA25 Cancer Antigen 125 (CA 125), Serum

Reporting Name

Cancer Ag 125 (CA 125), S

Useful For

Evaluating individuals' response to ovarian cancer therapy

 

Predicting recurrent ovarian cancer

 

This test is not useful for cancer detection screening in the normal population.

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Specimen Type

Serum


Specimen Required


Patient Preparation: For 12 hours before specimen collection do not take multivitamins or dietary supplements containing biotin (vitamin B7), which is commonly found in hair, skin, and nail supplements and multivitamins.

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into plastic vial.


Specimen Minimum Volume

0.75 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 5 days
  Frozen  168 days

Reference Values

Males: Not applicable

Females: <46 U/mL

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Friday

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information

86304

Clinical Information

Cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) is a glycoprotein antigen normally expressed in tissues derived from coelomic epithelia (ovary, fallopian tube, peritoneum, pleura, pericardium, colon, kidney, stomach).

 

Serum CA 125 is elevated in approximately 80% of women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer, but the assay sensitivity is suboptimal in early disease stages. The average reported sensitivities are 50% for stage I and 90% for stage II or greater.

 

Elevated serum CA 125 levels have been reported in individuals with a variety of nonovarian malignancies including cervical, liver, pancreatic, lung, colon, stomach, biliary tract, uterine, fallopian tube, breast, and endometrial carcinomas.

 

Elevated serum CA 125 levels have been reported in individuals with a variety of benign conditions including: cirrhosis, hepatitis, endometriosis, first trimester pregnancy, ovarian cysts, and pelvic inflammatory disease. Elevated levels during the menstrual cycle also have been reported.

Report Available

1 to 3 days

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis OK
Gross lipemia OK

Method Name

Electrochemiluminescent Immunoassay (ECLIA)

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send an Oncology Test Request (T729) with the specimen.