Lab test · Oncology
CA 19-9 (Cancer Antigen 19-9)
Pancreas & gut cancer marker
- Blood sample
- No fasting
- Report within 2 days
- Home collection
What this test is for
Pancreas & gut cancer marker
CA 19-9 is a tumour marker, a substance that some cancers release into the blood. It is used mainly for cancers of the pancreas and bile ducts, and sometimes for stomach and bowel cancers. Doctors use it to help assess these cancers, to follow the response to treatment and to look for signs of return, rather than to screen people without symptoms.
Why a doctor may order it
- When a scan shows a possible growth in the pancreas or bile ducts
- Unexplained jaundice with weight loss, together with scans
- To follow how well treatment for pancreatic or bile duct cancer is working
- During follow-up after treatment for these cancers
How to prepare
Fasting: Not needed.
You do not need to fast; eat and drink as usual. Keep taking your regular medicines unless your doctor has told you otherwise. Tell your doctor if you have recently had jaundice, gallstones or pancreatitis, as these can raise CA 19-9.
At home
- Sample
- Blood sample
- How it works
- A trained collector takes a small blood sample from a vein in your arm at your home, which takes a few minutes. If you are unwell or tired, the sample can be taken while you are lying down.
- Report
- Within 2 days of collection.
What the results can mean
Your report shows the CA 19-9 level next to the laboratory's reference range. A high level can be caused by cancer, but it also rises when the bile duct is blocked, for example by gallstones, and with pancreatitis, cirrhosis or infection of the bile ducts. A small number of people cannot make CA 19-9 at all, so their level stays low even when cancer is present. Your doctor will read the result alongside scans and your other test results.
What's included
One test: CA 19-9 (Cancer Antigen 19-9), from one blood sample.
Related tests
- Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA)Bowel & other cancer marker৳570
- Serum LipaseLipase is an enzyme made by the pancreas to help digest fats.
- Liver Function Test (LFT)A liver function test is a group of blood tests that show how well your liver is working and whether it is inflamed or damaged.
- Bilirubin (Total, Direct and Indirect)Bilirubin is a yellow substance made when old red blood cells are broken down.
- CA-125 (Cancer Antigen 125)CA-125 is a protein that can be released into the blood by ovarian cancer cells, although other tissues in the body make it too.
Questions people ask
Can CA 19-9 be used to screen for pancreatic cancer?
No. It is not accurate enough to screen people without symptoms, because it can be raised by other conditions and normal in early cancer.
Why is CA 19-9 high when I have jaundice?
A blocked bile duct, from gallstones or other causes, can raise CA 19-9 even without cancer. Your doctor may repeat the test once the blockage has been treated.
Why is CA 19-9 repeated during treatment?
Changes over time are more useful than a single result. A falling level often goes with a good response to treatment, while a rising level may prompt further scans.
How much does a CA 19-9 test cost in Dhaka?
With Mukti Health the price is ৳570, and the sample is collected at your home in Dhaka. You see the price again before you confirm the booking in the Mukti Health app.
Can I do the CA 19-9 test at home in Dhaka?
Yes. Book it in the Mukti Health app and a trained sample collector comes to your home in Dhaka to take the blood sample. You do not need to go to a laboratory.
How long does the CA 19-9 report take?
The report is usually ready within 2 days of the sample being collected.