What happens during a CEA test?
CEA is usually measured in the blood. During a CEA blood test, a health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
Sometimes, CEA is tested in the spinal fluid or from fluid in the abdominal wall. For these tests, your provider will remove a small sample of fluid using a thin needle and/or syringe. The following fluids may be tested:
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a clear, colorless liquid found in the spinal cord
Peritoneal fluid, a fluid that lines your abdominal wall
Pleural fluid, a liquid inside your chest cavity that covers the outside of each lung
