Preferred Specimen(s) 1 mL serum (red top tube ) no additive
Transport Container Plastic screw-cap vial
Transport Temperature Refrigerated
Methodology Immunoprecipitin
Clinical Significance This test is used to monitor tumor burden in patients with various malignant conditions, including Hodgkin’s disease, leukemia, and melanoma. Increased levels are associated with breast cancer, colorectal cancer, gynecologic cancer, lung cancer, hematologic malignancies, melanoma, and benign, inflammatory and chronic diseases. Decreased levels are associated with therapeutic response.