CEA stands for carcinoembryonic antigen. It is a protein found in the tissues of a developing

baby. CEA levels normally become very low or disappear after birth. Healthy adults should

have very little or no CEA in their body.This test measures the amount of CEA in the blood,

and sometimes in other body fluids. CEA is a type of tumor marker. Tumor markers are

substances made by cancer cells or by normal cells in response to cancer in the body.The

normal range is 0 to 2.5 ng/mL (0 to 2.5 µg/L).