Biomarker guide · Tumour markers
A CA 19-9 blood test measures a protein that can be raised in pancreatic, bile duct and some bowel cancers, but also in many non-cancer conditions. It is not a screening test for cancer on its own. In the UK you can test it privately in TrueVitals Ultimate (£399 including the clinic draw, 140 biomarkers) alongside CEA and the liver panel, with a clinician-reviewed report that explains what any result does and does not mean.
CA 19-9 (carbohydrate antigen 19-9) is a protein made by cells lining the pancreas, bile ducts and gut. Its main medical use is tracking: once someone has been diagnosed with pancreatic or bile duct cancer, falling or rising levels help show how treatment is working.
In people without symptoms it is a weak test for finding cancer. Most raised results in healthy people turn out to have another cause, and a normal result does not rule cancer out.
About 5 to 10% of people cannot make CA 19-9 at all (they are "Lewis-negative"), so their result stays low whatever is happening.
Ultimate includes CA 19-9 and CEA because many people want a broad baseline and to see a trend over years. A mildly raised result is reported calmly, with the common causes and your liver and sugar results alongside it. A clearly raised result is flagged for a GP review, with the report ready to take along. We never present it as a cancer screen. See our cancer blood test guide for what blood tests can and can't do.
Most labs use an upper limit of around 35 to 37 U/mL. Small rises just above this are common and often settle on a repeat test. Your report uses the lab's own range for your sample.
| Option | Includes it | Price | What else you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| TrueVitals Ultimate | Yes | £399 incl. clinic draw (home visit £29 extra) | With CEA, the full liver panel, glucose and HbA1c. Clinician-reviewed report in 4 working days. |
| TrueVitals Signature | Yes | £799 incl. draw | 230 biomarkers at Randox Health clinics, up to 12 working days. |
| TrueVitals Advanced | No | £319 | Not included. Advanced does not include tumour markers. |
| NHS GP or hospital | On request | Free if clinically indicated | Used mainly to monitor a known diagnosis, not to screen. |
TrueVitals prices checked 5 November 2026. Every TrueVitals report is clinician-reviewed. Pay in instalments with Klarna or Clearpay. Book a draw at one of 103 partner clinics, or add a home visit.
When a blood test is the wrong route: if you have new yellowing of the skin or eyes, unexplained weight loss, a new persistent pain in your upper tummy or back, or new-onset diabetes with weight loss, see your GP promptly. These need proper investigation (often a scan), and a normal CA 19-9 would not rule anything out.
A private panel is a good way to get a baseline, understand a result in context and track it over time. It does not replace your GP for symptoms, and anything that needs follow-up is flagged in plain words in your report.
CA 19-9 on its own rarely tells the whole story. In TrueVitals panels it is reported with these related markers:
Not reliably. It is often normal in early pancreatic cancer and is frequently raised for other reasons, so it is not recommended as a screening test on its own. Its main medical use is monitoring known disease.
Usually something benign, such as gallstones, a liver issue or high blood sugar. Your report sets it against your liver and glucose results. If it is clearly raised, we recommend a GP review and often a repeat test.
Most UK labs use an upper limit of about 35 to 37 U/mL. Your report shows the lab's own range for your sample.
No. Tumour markers CA 19-9 and CEA (and CA 15-3 for women) are in Ultimate and Signature. Check any marker on our panel comparison.
Not for CA 19-9 itself, but Ultimate includes fasting insulin and glucose, so we advise fasting overnight with water only.
Don't let a normal result reassure you about symptoms. Some people cannot make CA 19-9, and it can be normal in early disease. Symptoms always go to your GP.
How this page was written: by James Smillie, founder of TrueVitals, reviewed by the TrueVitals clinical review team, using NHS and laboratory reference sources. Ranges are typical values; your report uses your lab's own ranges. TrueVitals sells the panels named on this page, so we have stated plainly what this test cannot do. Last updated 5 November 2026.
Ultimate: 140 biomarkers (139 for women), £399 including the clinic draw, home visit £29 extra. Clinician-reviewed report within 4 working days.
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