At a glance
| Analyte | Cancer antigen 72-4 |
|---|---|
| Also called | CA-72-4, TAG-72 |
| Method | Two-site sandwich chemiluminescence immunoassay |
| Sample type | Serum, Plasma |
| Panel | Tumour marker |
| Discipline | CLIA immunoassay |
| Brand | Mindray |
What CA 72-4 measures
CA 72-4 is measured in monitoring and follow-up of gastric and some ovarian conditions under a physician’s direction. It is rarely used alone. Because no single marker in this group performs well enough on its own, gastrointestinal follow-up commonly combines CA 72-4 with CEA and CA 19-9, on the reasoning that a panel of markers behaving consistently is more informative than any one of them. As with the rest of the group it is raised in benign conditions, it is interpreted as a trend across serial samples on one platform, and the result belongs to the clinical picture rather than standing on its own.
How Philippine laboratories run it
This is a lower-volume assay in Philippine practice than CEA or CA 19-9, requested chiefly by gastroenterology and oncology services in tertiary centres and usually as part of a panel rather than singly. Laboratories adding it should plan it against the panel it belongs to rather than independently, since the requests arrive together. Its lower turnover makes expiry a more live concern than for the high-volume assays, which is an argument for smaller, more frequent deliveries rather than bulk ordering.
Analyzers it runs on
Calibrator, controls and companion tests
Delivered with the rest of the tumour marker panel, on the same schedule as CA 72-4.
Storage and handling
Refrigerated, upright, and not frozen.
Buying CA 72-4 in the Philippines
CA 72-4 is supplied for the CL-2600i and CL-900i. We deliver it with CEA and CA 19-9, because a run held up waiting on a separate order costs the same shift a stock-out does. Delivery is scheduled against your monthly CA 72-4 count, so the bench is not rationing tests in the last week of the month. How we plan clia immunoassay supply.
Questions about CA 72-4
Why are tumour markers ordered as a panel rather than singly?
Because no individual marker in this group performs well enough alone to carry a clinical decision. Running several that behave consistently gives the physician more to work with than a single value, particularly in gastrointestinal follow-up where CEA, CA 19-9 and CA 72-4 are commonly requested together. The panel is still interpreted as a trend, not as a one-off answer.
Order CA 72-4
Tell us your monthly CA 72-4 volume and we will quote a supply schedule for CL-2600i. We reply within one business day.
Request a quotation