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Test ID CEAPT Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA), Peritoneal Fluid


Specimen Required


Container/Tube: Plain, plastic, screw top tube

Specimen Volume: 2 mL


Secondary ID

61528

Useful For

An adjunct to cytology to differentiate between malignancy-related and benign causes of ascites formation

Method Name

Immunoenzymatic Assay

Reporting Name

CEA, Peritoneal Fluid

Specimen Type

Peritoneal

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Peritoneal Frozen (preferred) 90 days
  Ambient  7 days
  Refrigerated  7 days

Clinical Information

Malignancy accounts for approximately 7% of cases of ascites formation. Malignant disease can cause ascites by various mechanisms including peritoneal carcinomatosis (53%), massive liver metastasis causing portal hypertension (13%), peritoneal carcinomatosis plus massive liver metastasis (13%), hepatocellular carcinoma plus cirrhosis (7%), and chylous ascites due to lymphoma (7%). The evaluation and diagnosis of malignancy-related ascites is based on the patient clinical history, ascites fluid analysis, and imaging tests.

 

The overall sensitivity of cytology for the detection of malignancy-related ascites ranges from 58% to 75%. Cytology examination is most successful in patients with ascites related to peritoneal carcinomatosis as viable malignant cells are exfoliated into the ascitic fluid. However, only approximately 53% of patients with malignancy-related ascites have peritoneal carcinomatosis. Patients with other causes of malignancy-related ascites almost always have a negative cytology.

 

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a glycoprotein that is shed from the surface of malignant cells. Measurement of CEA in ascitic fluid has been proposed as a helpful test in detecting malignancy-related ascites given the limited sensitivity of cytology.

Reference Values

An interpretive report will be provided.

Cautions

Do not use peritoneal fluid carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) concentration as absolute evidence of the presence or the absence of malignant disease. The CEA result should be interpreted in conjunction with information from the clinical evaluation of the patient and other diagnostic procedures.

 

In some immunoassays, the presence of unusually high concentrations of analyte may result in a high-dose "hook" effect. This may result in a lower or even normal measured analyte concentration. If the reported result is inconsistent with the clinical presentation, the laboratory should be alerted for troubleshooting.

 

In rare cases, some individuals can develop antibodies to mouse or other animal antibodies (often referred to as human anti-mouse antibodies [HAMA] or heterophile antibodies), which may cause interference in some immunoassays. Caution should be used in interpretation of results and the laboratory should be alerted if the result does not correlate with the clinical presentation.

 

CEA values are method-dependent; therefore, the same method should be used if patients are serially monitored.

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Saturday

Report Available

1 to 3 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test has been modified from the manufacturer's instructions. Its performance characteristics were determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. This test has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information

82378

NY State Approved

Yes