Synonyms |
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Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9
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Clinical
Indications |
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CA19-9
is used as a tumour marker in pancreatic, colorectal and
biliary tract tumours. Serum CA19-9 is grossly raised in
~80% of stage 2 pancreatic carcinoma (may also be raised in chronic pancreatitis but
rarely > 60 kU/L). However, elevated levels are also found in hepatobilary disease
associated with cholestasis (may be >9,000 kU/L).
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Request Form |
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Combined Pathology Blood form
(Yellow/Black)
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Availability |
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Analysed by referral laboratory
if specific criteria met.
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Specific
Criteria |
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Monitoring of known pancreatic
and gastrointestinal carcinoma.
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Turnaround
Time |
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1 week
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Specimen |
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Serum
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Volume |
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7 ml
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Container |
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Yellow top (SST) tube
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Lab. Handling |
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Aliquot and store at 4C.
(CA19 & send; NO199 & save)
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Causes for
Rejection |
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Not meeting specific criteria for
analysis.
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Reference
Range |
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Less than 33 kU/l.
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Half-life
in Serum |
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Approx.
1 day but can vary from less than 1 day to 3 days. Tumour
marker half-life calculator.
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Interpretation |
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CA19-9 levels are elevated in most
pancreatitic adenocarcinomas, ~50% of gastric carcinomas and
~30% of colorectal carcinomas. Levels may also be elevated in
benign conditions: acute and chronic pancreatitis,
hepatocellular jaundice, cirrhosis, acute cholangitis and
cystic fibrosis. Levels should be interpreted with caution and
levels between 100 and 200 may be due to cholestasis, they are
not indicative of malignancy.
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