Cancer Antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), near Cardiff

£87 all inclusive. That covers the blood draw, the CA 19-9 measurement, and a plain-English report with the laboratory reference range emailed to you, usually the next day. A £50 deposit secures your appointment and comes off the total.

CA 19-9 (Cancer Antigen 19-9) is a protein that can rise in conditions affecting the pancreas, bile ducts and digestive system. In medicine it is mainly used to help assess symptoms in those areas alongside a scan, and to monitor a cancer that has already been diagnosed, including how it responds to treatment. It is one input a doctor uses, not a diagnosis in itself.

No, and this is important. CA 19-9 is not a reliable screening test for pancreatic or other cancers in people without symptoms. It can be normal even when cancer is present, and it is often raised by harmless conditions. Using it as a self-check can give false reassurance or unnecessary alarm. It is most valuable when a doctor requests it to help assess specific symptoms or to monitor a known condition.

Around 5 to 10% of people do not produce CA 19-9 at all, because of their blood group type (they are what is known as Lewis-antigen negative). In these people the result stays low regardless of whether disease is present, so a normal number is not reassuring on its own. This is one of several reasons the test should not be used alone or as a screen.

Many benign conditions: pancreatitis, gallstones, a blocked bile duct, jaundice and cholestasis, cholangitis, cirrhosis and other liver disease, diabetes and thyroid disease, among others. A blocked bile duct in particular can push CA 19-9 up markedly without any cancer, and the level often falls once the blockage is relieved. This is why the result needs to be read in context.

Try not to panic — a raised CA 19-9 has many possible causes, most of them not cancer, and a blocked bile duct or inflammation can raise it substantially. The right next step is to have it reviewed by a doctor, who will consider your symptoms and history and usually arrange imaging such as an ultrasound or CT scan. You can book a private GP appointment with us, or take your report to your own GP.

No. A normal CA 19-9 does not exclude cancer, particularly as some people cannot produce it at all, and some cancers do not raise it. If you have persistent symptoms, keep pursuing them with a doctor regardless of a normal result.

They are different markers used for different areas. CA 19-9 leans towards the pancreas and digestive system, while CA 125 is more associated with the ovaries. Both share the same limitations: they are not screening tests, they can be raised by benign conditions, and they are best interpreted by a doctor alongside symptoms and imaging.

No. This is a self-refer test. Book online or call 029 2199 9300. Because CA 19-9 needs careful interpretation, we do recommend discussing the result with a doctor.

No fasting is needed for CA 19-9. If you currently have jaundice or a known bile duct problem, mention it when you book, as this can affect the result and your clinician may want to take that into account.

Next day in most cases, often within 8 hours. Your report shows your CA 19-9 value against the laboratory reference range. We will confirm timing when you book.

At our Penarth clinic (13 Washington Buildings, CF64 2AD) or our Cowbridge clinic (10 High Street, CF71 7AG). Both are a short drive from Cardiff with easy parking.

Yes. Our consultant radiologists can take the sample under real-time ultrasound, the only such service in South Wales. Mention it when you book so we can allow time.

Yes, and for this test we recommend it. You can book a private GP appointment and one of our doctors will interpret the result with you and plan any next steps.