How does a CEA test work?
A CEA test is usually a blood test. During a blood test, your healthcare provider takes a small blood sample from one of your veins. Specialists in a laboratory analyze the blood to check for CEA.
Less commonly, your provider may test fluid from your:
- Abdominal wall (peritoneal fluid).
- Chest (pleural fluid).
- Spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid or CSF).
In these cases, your provider takes a small fluid sample using a needle or syringe. They insert the needle or syringe into your chest or lower back.
How do I prepare for a CEA test?
Your healthcare provider will tell you how to prepare for a CEA test. You may temporarily stop certain medicines or supplements that increase bleeding, like aspirin.
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What can I expect during a CEA test?
During a CEA blood test, your healthcare provider:
- Inserts a small needle into one of your veins, usually in your arm.
- Attaches a vial or test tube to the needle.
- Collects a small blood sample.
If your healthcare provider needs to take samples of other body fluids, they:
- Inject your lower back or chest with numbing medicine (local anesthesia).
- Insert a needle or syringe into the area.
- Use an X-ray image to guide the needle to the correct position.
- Collect a sample of CSF, pleural fluid or peritoneal fluid.
A CEA blood test usually takes less than five minutes. CEA tests of other body fluids usually take 30 minutes or less. You can return home the same day.
What are the risks of a CEA test?
CEA tests are generally safe. Chest fluid tests have a small risk of:
- Blood loss.
- Infection.
- Lung damage.
Most people don’t experience complications of a CEA test. Your healthcare provider will help you understand the risks of the test beforehand.
What are the side effects of a CEA test?
If you have a blood test, you may have mild pain or bruising where your provider inserted the needle.
If your provider took samples of CSF or abdominal fluid, side effects may include:
