Test guide

CA 19-9 Blood Test (Pancreatic Cancer)

A CA 19-9 test measures the amount of a protein called CA 19-9 (cancer antigen 19-9) in a sample of your blood. CA 19-9 is a type of tumor marker. Tumor markers are substances made by cancer cells or by normal cells in response to cancer .

For everyone & professionalsReviewed 2026-10-18

What it is for

CA 19-9 blood tests may be used to: Some people do not make CA 19-9 even when they have a cancer that usually produces high levels of CA 19-9. For these people, a CA 19-9 test is not useful. Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Medical test information is public domain. Source identity and definition checked automatically on 2026-10-18. No individual clinical interpretation or human reviewer is asserted.

Limitations

Reference intervals and interpretation depend on the laboratory, specimen, method and clinical context. This source definition is educational information; it does not establish a diagnosis, product approval or suitability for an individual.

Also known as

  • cancer antigen 19-9, carbohydrate antigen 19-9, CA 19-9 measurement, CA 19-9 radioimmunoassay (RIA)

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