CA 125 (Ovarian Cancer Marker) Test
In-house labs
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60 mins collection
6 AM - 10 PM
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Reports
What is the CA 125 test?
Cancer antigen 125 (CA125) is a protein that is found in ovarian cancer cells. A CA125 blood test checks the amount of cancer antigen 125 in the bloodstream. Protein is produced by the cells and may be found in the blood.
A CA 125 blood test can be used to monitor ovarian cancer during and after treatment. In some cases, it may be used to check for the early signs of ovarian cancer in women who are at high risk for this disease.
What are the other names for the CA 125 test?
The other names are: ovarian cancer antigen, CA-125 tumor marker.
What are the test parameters included in the CA 125 test?
There is only one parameter.
What does the CA 125 test measure?
CA125 testing is to analyse the amount of the CA125 protein in the blood. CA125 is analysed in units per millilitre or U/mL.
Both cancerous and noncancerous conditions might affect blood CA125 values. Many healthy cells produce low levels of CA125, including cells of the ovaries, pancreas, breast, and lining of the chest and abdomen. CA125 values may be increased by cancer and other health conditions which cause irritation or inflammation in these organs.
What’s the normal range of CA 125 test?
Below 35 U/mL
Who should get a CA 125 test?
Healthcare providers order the CA125 blood test for women with a strong family history of ovarian cancer. However, the test usually is not used to screen for ovarian cancer in women who have an average risk of developing the disease. Numerous disorders and conditions which may cause elevated CA125 levels are:
Pregnancy
Normal menstruation
Endometrial and fallopian tube cancers.
Non-cancerous growths in the uterus, such as uterine fibroids.
Endometriosis, that is a condition in which the cells of the uterus grow in other areas of the body, such as the ovaries and the bladder.
Pelvic inflammatory disease, that is a disorder in which the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries become infected.
Cancer of the pancreas
Is there any preparation needed for the CA 125 test?
No special preparation is required. Fasting is not required.
What is the cost of a CA 125 test?
What is the type of sample required?
This test requires a blood sample.
Who will perform the CA 125 test?
A healthcare provider, who is also called a phlebotomist, usually performs blood draws, including those for CA 125 tests, but any healthcare provider trained in drawing blood can perform this task. Samples are sent to a lab where a medical laboratory scientist prepares the samples and measures the tests on analysers or manually.
What should I expect during my CA 125 test?
You can expect to experience the following during the blood test or a blood draw:
You sit comfortably on the chair, and a healthcare provider will check your arms for an easily accessible vein. It is an inner part of your arm on the other side of your elbow.
Once the phlebotomist has located a vein, they disinfect the area with an alcohol swab.
They will prick a needle into your vein to draw a blood sample. They may feel like a small pinch.
After the needle is inserted, the required amount of blood is drawn into a test tube.
When they draw enough blood for the test, they will remove the needle and hold a cotton ball or gauze on the pricked site to stop any bleeding.
They apply a band-aid over the pricked site, and the blood collection is finished.
This process takes less than five minutes.
What should I expect after my CA 125 test?
Once the phlebotomist collects the blood sample, it will be sent to the laboratory for processing. When reports are ready, your healthcare provider will share the results with you.
What is the risk of the CA 125 test?
Blood tests are very common, and they don’t carry any significant risks. You may have a slight pain like an ant bite when the needle gets inserted, and a small bruise might develop there.
When can I expect my CA 125 test results?
This test report is available via email or WhatsApp within 6 hours after the collection of the blood sample.
What do the results of the CA 125 test mean?
Interpreting test results
Levels of CA125 may vary from patient to patient, so a healthcare provider must take a patient’s unique situation into account when interpreting CA125 test results. Your healthcare provider is in the best position to put your test results into context and explain what they could mean for your health.
In a patient being evaluated for a pelvic mass, an abnormal CA125 test may be one indication suggesting that the mass might be related to ovarian cancer. Test is more informative in patients who have gone through menopause.
For screening patients at high risk of developing ovarian cancer, an elevated level of CA125 is not enough to diagnose cancer on its own. CA125 values are considered alongside other tests to confirm or rule out cancer, such as further blood tests, imaging tests, and biopsies.
If you are undergoing ovarian cancer treatment, your doctors will compare your pre-treatment level of CA125 with subsequent test results. If CA125 values go down after an elevated result prior to treatment, this might indicate cancer treatment is effective. If the levels increase or do not change, the treatment might not be effective.
If you have completed treatment for ovarian cancer, you might receive follow-up CA125 testing periodically. An abnormal CA125 test result may be an early indication that cancer has returned.
Individual laboratories might use different methods to test CA125. If CA125 is being monitored over time, it is helpful to use the same laboratory to process each test. Results obtained from different laboratories can not be directly comparable.
What are normal CA 125 test results?
Below 35 U/mL
Normal ranges might vary slightly among different laboratories. Some of the labs use different measurements or may test different samples. Speak to the doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
What other tests might I have along with this test?
CA125, Biopsy
How do I book a CA 125 test at home?
Log on to www.orangehealth.in and submit your details. Our highly trained, professional, and vaccinated eMedics will be at your doorstep within 60 minutes or at the time booked by you.
What is the type of sample required?
This test requires a blood sample.
Who will perform the CA 125 test?
A healthcare provider, who is also called a phlebotomist, usually performs blood draws, including those for CA 125 tests, but any healthcare provider trained in drawing blood can perform this task. Samples are sent to a lab where a medical laboratory scientist prepares the samples and measures the tests on analysers or manually.
What should I expect during my CA 125 test?
You can expect to experience the following during the blood test or a blood draw:
You sit comfortably on the chair, and a healthcare provider will check your arms for an easily accessible vein. It is an inner part of your arm on the other side of your elbow.
Once the phlebotomist has located a vein, they disinfect the area with an alcohol swab.
They will prick a needle into your vein to draw a blood sample. They may feel like a small pinch.
After the needle is inserted, the required amount of blood is drawn into a test tube.
When they draw enough blood for the test, they will remove the needle and hold a cotton ball or gauze on the pricked site to stop any bleeding.
They apply a band-aid over the pricked site, and the blood collection is finished.
This process takes less than five minutes.
What should I expect after my CA 125 test?
Once the phlebotomist collects the blood sample, it will be sent to the laboratory for processing. When reports are ready, your healthcare provider will share the results with you.
What is the risk of the CA 125 test?
Blood tests are very common, and they don’t carry any significant risks. You may have a slight pain like an ant bite when the needle gets inserted, and a small bruise might develop there.
When can I expect my CA 125 test results?
This test report is available via email or WhatsApp within 6 hours after the collection of the blood sample.
What do the results of the CA 125 test mean?
Interpreting test results
Levels of CA125 may vary from patient to patient, so a healthcare provider must take a patient’s unique situation into account when interpreting CA125 test results. Your healthcare provider is in the best position to put your test results into context and explain what they could mean for your health.
In a patient being evaluated for a pelvic mass, an abnormal CA125 test may be one indication suggesting that the mass might be related to ovarian cancer. Test is more informative in patients who have gone through menopause.
For screening patients at high risk of developing ovarian cancer, an elevated level of CA125 is not enough to diagnose cancer on its own. CA125 values are considered alongside other tests to confirm or rule out cancer, such as further blood tests, imaging tests, and biopsies.
If you are undergoing ovarian cancer treatment, your doctors will compare your pre-treatment level of CA125 with subsequent test results. If CA125 values go down after an elevated result prior to treatment, this might indicate cancer treatment is effective. If the levels increase or do not change, the treatment might not be effective.
If you have completed treatment for ovarian cancer, you might receive follow-up CA125 testing periodically. An abnormal CA125 test result may be an early indication that cancer has returned.
Individual laboratories might use different methods to test CA125. If CA125 is being monitored over time, it is helpful to use the same laboratory to process each test. Results obtained from different laboratories can not be directly comparable.
What are normal CA 125 test results?
Below 35 U/mL
Normal ranges might vary slightly among different laboratories. Some of the labs use different measurements or may test different samples. Speak to the doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
What other tests might I have along with this test?
CA125, Biopsy
How do I book a CA 125 test at home?
Log on to www.orangehealth.in and submit your details. Our highly trained, professional, and vaccinated eMedics will be at your doorstep within 60 minutes or at the time booked by you.