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Learn · Immune & Cancer Screening Markers

CEA

Measured in ng/mL

Carcinoembryonic antigen — a general tumor marker used mainly to follow a known cancer over time rather than to find one. On a screening panel it is context, not a verdict.

What the numbers mean

These are the ranges BioForge works to. They are not the same as a lab's reference range, which is built from the general population rather than from people who feel well.

Low
<0.5 · Not meaningful
Optimal
Non-smoker <3.0 · Smoker <5.0
High
>5.0 · Repeat before anything else

What moves CEA

Smoking raises it on its own and is by far the most common reason for a mildly high result. Also rises with inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, liver disease, and benign lung conditions. A single mildly elevated value is repeated before any further step is taken.

Related markers in Immune & Cancer Screening Markers

This page is educational and is not medical advice. Ranges are general and do not account for your history, medications or symptoms — a single number never decides a protocol. Your results are interpreted by a licensed clinician alongside everything else about you. Back to the Learning Center

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