Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) is a tumor-associated antigen characterized as an oncofetal glycoprotein. CEA is expressed in a variety of malignancies, particularly pulmonary or gastrointestinal tumors (e.g. colon cancer, liver cancer and lung cancer). CEA normally occurs in fetal gut tissue with detectable serum levels essentially disappearing after birth. Therefore, elevated levels of CEA can be of significant value in the diagnosis of primary carcinomas.

In addition to qualitative assessment, CEA testing plays an important role in the monitoring of cancer patients. Clinical evidence indicates that CEA levels can serve as predictive markers in both pre- and post-treatment cancer. Progressive elevation of CEA may signal tumor recurrence 3-36 months before clinical evidence of metastasis. Persistent elevation of circulating CEA following treatment is strongly

indicative of occult metastatic and residual diseases and deficient therapeutic response.

The CEA Rapid Test (Whole Blood/Serum/Plasma) utilizes a combination of anti-CEA antibody coated particles and anti-CEA antibodies to detect elevated levels of CEA in whole blood, serum or plasma. The minimum detection level is 5ng/ml.