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HelpEpic Test Code LAB155M Cancer Antigen 125 (CA 125), Serum
Additional Codes
MML:CA25
Reporting Name
Cancer Ag 125 (CA 125), SUseful 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
SerumSpecimen 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
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.
Interpretation
In monitoring studies, elevations of cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) above the reference interval after debulking surgery and chemotherapy indicate that residual disease is likely (>95% accuracy). However, normal levels do not rule out recurrence.
A persistently rising CA 125 value suggests progressive malignant disease and poor therapeutic response.
Physiologic half-life of CA 125 is approximately 5 days.
In individuals with advanced disease who have undergone cytoreductive surgery and are on chemotherapy, a prolonged half-life (>20 days) may be associated with a shortened disease-free survival.
Cautions
Results cannot be interpreted as absolute evidence of the presence or absence of disease.
Serum markers are not specific for malignancy and values may vary by method. Values obtained with different assay methods cannot be used interchangeably.
Some individuals have antibodies to mouse protein (HAMA), which can cause interference in immunoassays that employ mouse antibodies. In particular, it has been reported that serum specimens from patients who have undergone therapeutic or diagnostic procedures that include infusion of mouse monoclonal antibodies may produce erroneous results in such assays. Rerunning the specimen in question after additional blocking treatment may resolve the issue.
No interference was observed from rheumatoid factors up to a concentration of 1200 IU/mL.
There is no high-dose hook effect at cancer antigen 125 concentrations of up to 50,000 U/mL.
Report Available
1 to 3 daysSpecimen Retention Time
14 daysReject Due To
| Gross hemolysis | OK |
| Gross lipemia | OK |
NY State Approved
YesMethod Name
Electrochemiluminescent Immunoassay (ECLIA)
Forms
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send an Oncology Test Request (T729) with the specimen.