Test Entry - Detail

CA19-9

General

Clinical Use:

CA19-9 is a tumour associated antigen, and is useful in the diagnosis and management of patients with pancreatic cancer. The overall sensitivity and specificity of CA19-9 for pancreatic cancer is approximately 80% and 90% respectively. The sensitivity of CA19-9 for resectable tumours is 67% and for unresectable or metastatic tumour is 87%. The higher the level of CA19-9 the greater the specificity for pancreatic cancer. Patients whose CA19-9 levels normalise after pancreatectomy have an improved prognosis compared with those who do not. Conversely, a progressively rising CA19-9 after surgery predicts recurrence of the disease up to 7 months before clinical detection. However, earlier diagnosis of relapse has not been shown to alter patient survival. Population screening for pancreatic cancer with CA19-9 is not indicated. CA19-9 is also raised in other malignancies - bile duct (67%), hepatocellular (49%), gastric (41%), colonic (34%) and non-gastrointestinal (14%) cancers. CA19-9 is also increased in benign hepatobiliary diseases, particularly in patients with acute cholangitis and cirrhosis.

Availability:

Samples are tested Monday-Saturday.

Code:

C199

Handling Instructions (to laboratory):

Send sample chilled.

Hyperlink:

Reference Interval:

<37 kU/L

Collection Requirements

Container:

Serum Sep. Tube-SST (GOLD),

Sample Type:

See container

Minimum Collection Volume:

1mL

Collection Instructions:

Processing Requirements

Alternate Containers:

Lithium Heparin-PST (GREEN)

Processing Instructions:

Minimum Assay Volume:

250uL

Stability:

5 days chilled; 3 months frozen

Transport Instructions (to testing laboratory):

Send sample chilled.

Testing Locations

Performed at:

Section	Department	Site	Contact Phone
Core	Biochemistry	Fiona Stanley Hospital	6152 8140
Core	Biochemistry	QEII Medical Centre	6383 4093

Last Updated : 03-10-2020 08:10