CA 19-9 Blood Test

What is a CA 19-9 Blood Test?

The CA 19-9 blood test is a medical test that measures CA 19-9 (cancer antigen 19-9), a protein and substance made by either cancer cells or normal cells responding to cancer in one�??s body. It�??s one of the types of tumor markers. The test is often used to monitor the progression of one�??s cancer, predict the spread of one�??s cancer, and diagnose specific cancers when used with other tests.

How Does it Work?

Step One. Access and Download the Template

Ensure you have a digital and printable copy of the CA 19-9 test template when needed. Grab a copy by doing either of the following:

• Clicking the �??Use Template�?� or �??Download Template�?� button
• Searching �??CA 19-9 Test�?� on Carepatron�??s template library�??s search bar on the website or app

Step Two. Assess or Examine the Patient

Since the CA 19-9 blood test is primarily used for monitoring, you must first examine and assess the patient before you request said test. It�??s also best to look over their medical records to understand their current condition better. An interview before ordering a test can also be helpful, especially if you plan to use the CA 19-9 blood test along with others to diagnose.

Step Three. Collect the Sample

Our CA 19-9 blood test template is a request form that, once filled out by the referring physician, can be used by the patient or fellow practitioners as proof that the test was requested. Whoever brings it may show it to the practitioner in charge of collecting the sample, and it�??s only then that they may collect a sample.

Step Five. Securely Store the Template

Once the test has been performed and the results are available, the referring physician can store the filled-out request form in a secure physical location or on Carepatron, a secure HIPAA-compliant clinical documentation software, to be accessed only by relevant parties.

When Would you use this Test?

Healthcare providers such as a primary care physician, oncologist, or specialist managing the care of a patient with cancer may use the CA 19-9 Blood Test template in the following situations:

Detection and Diagnosis

The referring physician may use the template to request the test when they suspect the patient is at risk or has the disease based on their symptoms, family history, or results from other blood tests.

Assessment

If the patient receives cancer treatment, this test can be requested regularly to check if the treatment is effective. Aside from that, the referring physician can also be requested to monitor the patient post-treatment and check if the cancer came back.

What do the Results Mean?

Once you use our free CA 19-9 Blood Test and obtain the results, it�??s time to analyze and interpret. Though it�??s best to consider the context of the patient before concluding anything, if you need a general idea of what the results mean, you can check them below:

• Lower than normal CA 19-9 level of 37 U/mL: The patient may not have cancer. 
• Higher than normal CA 19-9 level of 37 U/mL: The patient has or is at risk of developing colon, lung, pancreas, and gallbladder cancer. 
• No change from the first result of higher than normal level: The tumor is stable. 
• Increasing from the first result of higher than normal level: The tumor may grow. 
• Decreasing from the first result of higher than normal level: The tumor is shrinking due to the treatment, and the cancer in the body is lessening. 
• Decrease during treatment, then increase after treatment: The tumor has returned. 

Do note that there are certain circumstances wherein a patient may have cancer, but their bodies don�??t produce enough CA 19-9 to indicate that they have the disease. 

References

• Ballehaninna, U. K., & Chamberlain, R. S. (2012). The clinical utility of serum CA 19-9 in the diagnosis, prognosis, and management of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: An evidence based appraisal. PubMed. https://doi.org/10.3978/j.issn.2078-6891.2011.021
• Lee, S. P., Sung, I., Kim, J. H., Lee, S., Park, H. S., & Shim, C. S. (2019). Usefulness of Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 Test in Healthy People and Necessity of Medical Follow-up in Individuals with Elevated Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 Level. Korean Journal of Family Medicine, 40(5), 314??322. https://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.18.0057
• Qin, X., Wang, Z., Jing-Sen, S., Lu, M., Wang, L., & He, Q. (2004). Utility of serum CA19-9 in diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma: In comparison with CEA. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 10(3), 427. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v10.i3.427