Blood test explanation - Tumour markers

Tumour markers

Further information: Tumour markers

Test	Lower limit	Upper limit	Unit	Comments
Alpha fetoprotein (AFP)	0	44[7]	ng/mL or µg/L
Beta Human chorionic gonadotrophin (bHCG)	n/a	5[7]	IU/l or mU/ml	in male and non-pregnant female
CA19-9	n/a	40[7]	U/ml
CA-125	n/a	30,[64] 35[65]	kU/L or U/mL
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) non-smokers at 50 years	n/a	3.4,[3] 3.6[66]	μg/l
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) non-smokers at 70 years	n/a	4.1[66]	μg/l
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) - smokers	n/a	5[67]	μg/l
Prostate specific antigen (PSA)	n/a	2.5,[3] 4[7]	μg/L[7][3] or ng/mL[15]	below age 45 <2.5 μg/L
PAP	0	3[15]	units/dL (Bodansky units)