How is CA125 tested?
CA125 refers to carbohydrate antigen 125, which is generally tested through blood examination. Carbohydrate antigen 125 is a tumor marker used in cancer screening.
Carbohydrate antigen 125 is a laboratory indicator for pelvic tumors and is commonly associated with gynecological cancers such as cervical cancer and ovarian cancer. The test primarily involves a blood draw to determine whether the level of carbohydrate antigen 125 in the serum is elevated. The normal range for carbohydrate antigen 125 in serum is typically 0–35 U/mL. Elevated levels of carbohydrate antigen 125 suggest an abnormal condition in the body, which may be caused by benign diseases such as ovarian cysts. If the cyst is small, medications like Jinji Capsules or Guizhi Fuling Capsules may be used under a doctor's guidance. However, larger cysts may indicate malignant tumors such as ovarian cancer, which may require surgical treatment under medical supervision. After surgery, radiotherapy may be used as an adjunctive treatment.
In addition, elevated carbohydrate antigen 125 levels may also be associated with endometriosis, which can be evaluated using pelvic ultrasound or CT scans. Treatment should be tailored according to the underlying cause.