Also known as: CA 19-9 (Pancreatic Cancer Marker)
CPT code: 86301the billing code Quest, Labcorp and hospital labs all use for this test
The short answer
A tumor marker used to monitor pancreatic and gastrointestinal cancers, measured from a standard blood draw. At TestWell it costs $28.99 plus a $6 lab processing fee, needs no fasting, and results post in 2–5 business days. Physician-authorized with no doctor's visit or insurance needed; draw at Labcorp.
Hospital Lab
$225
cash pay
Other Labs
$50
+ lab fees
TestWell
$28.99
+ $6 lab processing fee
CA 19-9 is a carbohydrate antigen found on the surface of cancer cells, primarily used to monitor pancreatic cancer treatment response and detect recurrence. It can also be elevated in bile duct, stomach, and colorectal cancers. Benign conditions like pancreatitis, gallstones, cirrhosis, and bile duct obstruction can also raise CA 19-9 levels. About 5–10% of the population cannot produce CA 19-9 due to Lewis antigen blood type status.
CA 19-9 (carbohydrate antigen 19-9) is a tumor marker used mainly to follow known pancreatic and biliary cancers — tracking response to treatment and watching for recurrence — and to help evaluate a pancreatic mass alongside imaging. It is not a screening test for healthy people.
People with a diagnosed pancreatic, bile-duct or gallbladder cancer whose clinician tracks CA 19-9 between visits, people with a pancreatic cyst or mass under evaluation, and those with a strong family history who have been advised to monitor it. Anyone with new symptoms (jaundice, unexplained weight loss, upper abdominal pain radiating to the back) should see a clinician rather than rely on this test alone.
Sample Type
Blood draw
Fasting
Not required
Results In
2–5 business days · typical; varies by lab and draw day
Performed At
Labcorp
Your CA 19-9 (Pancreatic Cancer Marker) results will include values for each of the 1 biomarker tested, along with reference ranges. Results are reviewed by a licensed physician before being released to your secure portal.
If any values fall outside the normal range, your report will include guidance on what that may mean and recommended next steps. You'll receive an email notification when your results are ready, typically within 2–5 business days.
Typical reference range layout
Lab reports show where your value sits relative to established reference intervals—your physician interprets this in context for you. Already have results? Analyze them with your AI assistant against our physician-reviewed ranges.
No fasting required.
TestWell orders the same CA 19-9 (Pancreatic Cancer Marker) the labs run for doctors' offices, so you can walk into Labcorp with our requisition — no doctor's visit, a licensed physician authorizes the order, and most patient service centers take walk-ins. The table shows each lab's own test code, the name printed on the requisition, what the lab charges on its own consumer site, and the price through TestWell at that lab (plus one $6 fee per order).
| Lab | Test code | On the requisition | Lab's own site | Through TestWell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labcorp | test no. 002261 | “CA 19-9 (Pancreatic Cancer Marker)” | not sold direct | $28.99 + $6 |
You choose the lab at checkout; the requisition is written for that lab and arrives by email within minutes. New York and New Jersey orders draw at BioReference. Lab-direct prices are read from the labs' public pages and re-checked regularly.
Where to get it near you: patient service centers by state and city · search by ZIP code
A CA 19-9 (Pancreatic Cancer Marker) test costs $28.99 at TestWell — $34.99 all-in, since the $6 lab processing fee is charged once per order and there is no draw or physician fee. Hospital outpatient labs typically bill around $225.00 self-pay. With insurance you pay your plan's negotiated rate against your deductible; TestWell's price is fixed before the draw and HSA/FSA-eligible.
| Where you order | Price | One test, all-in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TestWell (drawn at Labcorp) | $28.99 | $34.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order |
| Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $225.00 | $225.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher |
Lab test codes: Quest test code 4698 · Labcorp test no. 002261. Competitor prices are read from the linked public pages and re-checked regularly; the labs' sites may add taxes or change prices without notice.
Compare more: Quest Diagnostics price list · Labcorp price list · Quest vs Labcorp · Lab test price checker
Pancreatic cancer is the best-known cause — CA 19-9 is raised in roughly 70–80% of cases — and it also rises with bile-duct, gallbladder, stomach, colorectal and some ovarian cancers. But many benign conditions push it above the usual cutoff of about 35–37 U/mL: any blockage of bile flow (gallstones, a stricture, cholestasis from medication), acute or chronic pancreatitis, cholangitis, cirrhosis and hepatitis, cystic fibrosis, poorly controlled diabetes, hypothyroidism and interstitial lung disease. Mild elevations (under about 100 U/mL) are more often benign than malignant; very high values (in the thousands) are rarely benign. Because bile obstruction alone can raise it, clinicians repeat the test once liver tests have normalized before drawing conclusions.
Yes. About 5–10% of people are Lewis antigen–negative and cannot make CA 19-9 at all, so their result stays low regardless of disease, and small early tumors often produce little of it. That is why CA 19-9 is not used to screen people without symptoms — professional guidelines (ASCO, NCCN) recommend it for monitoring known disease and as one input alongside CT or MRI, not as a stand-alone rule-out.
Not from your own doctor. TestWell's price includes authorization by a licensed physician in our network: order online, choose a Quest Diagnostics or Labcorp location, and the requisition is generated for you — no appointment or referral needed. Results post to your portal in 2–5 business days. If the result is elevated, bring it to your clinician; monitoring a known cancer should always be coordinated with the oncology team.
CPT 86301 (immunoassay for tumor antigen, CA 19-9). The lab's own order codes are Labcorp 002261 and Quest 4698; the result is reported in U/mL against a reference range of <35 U/mL at both labs. TestWell's price includes the physician order.
$28.99 on TestWell, all-in, drawn at Quest or Labcorp; no insurance needed and HSA/FSA cards are accepted. Hospital outpatient labs commonly bill about $225 for the same CPT 86301 test before any facility fee. Results in 2–5 business days.
CA 19-9 (Pancreatic Cancer Marker) test results are typically ready in 2–5 business days after your draw at Labcorp. TestWell emails you the moment they post, and your results dashboard shows each marker against its reference range with a plain-English explanation.
No, fasting is not required for a CA 19-9 (Pancreatic Cancer Marker) test — you can eat normally and book any time of day.
The CA 19-9 (Pancreatic Cancer Marker) test is Quest Diagnostics test code 4698, Labcorp test number 002261 (CPT 86301). TestWell orders it under those codes for $28.99 at Quest or Labcorp — no doctor's visit or insurance required, results in 2–5 business days. Codes verified against the labs' catalogs in 2026.
Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD · Last reviewed September 2026
TestWell Price
$28.99
+ $6 lab processing fee at checkout
No insurance needed · HIPAA compliant
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CA 19-9 (Pancreatic Cancer Marker)
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