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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Will Taking Marijuana Alter The Results Of CEA Test?

Hi, I recently had my 3 month CEA test done and it came back at 5.1. I also smoked some marijuana before that test. Can that have made my results that high?? My test are different each time meaning 4.7 before this one without smoking. Please help! Thank you.
posted on Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Twitter Sat, 12 Jul 2014 Answered on
Twitter Mon, 14 Jul 2014 Last reviewed on
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Infectious Diseases Specialist,  's  Response
Smoking will cause increase in CEA. CEA antigen testing has reference range for non-smoker <2.5 ng/ml and for smoker it is <5 ng/ml. since you smoke it will alter your result. but even though you find your value to be borderline higher, so you should think of malignancy.
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Will Taking Marijuana Alter The Results Of CEA Test?

Smoking will cause increase in CEA. CEA antigen testing has reference range for non-smoker 2.5 ng/ml and for smoker it is 5 ng/ml. since you smoke it will alter your result. but even though you find your value to be borderline higher, so you should think of malignancy.