CA19-9 represents the most important and basic carbohydrate tumor marker. The immunohistologic distribution of CA19-9 in tissues is consistent with the quantitative determination of higher CA19-9 concentrations in cancer than in normal or inflamed tissues. Recently reports indicates that the serum CA19-9 level is frequently elevated in the serum of subjects with various gastrointestinal malignancies, such as pancreatic, colorectal, gastric and hepatic carcinomas. Together with CEA, elevated CA19-9 is suggestive of gallbladder neoplasm in the setting of inflammatory gallbladder disease. It has been shown that a persistent elevation in serumCA19-9 value following treatment may be indicative of occult metastatic and/or residual disease. A persistently rising serum CA 19-9 value may be associated with progressive malignant disease and poor therapeutic response. A declining CA 19-9 value may be indicative of a favorable prognosis and good response to treatment. The CA19-9 ELISA test is based on the principle of a solid phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The assay system utilizes a monoclonal antibody directed against a distinct antigenic determinant on the intact CA19-9 molecule for immobilization (on the microtiter wells). Another CA 19-9 monoclonal antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is in the antibody-enzyme conjugate solution. The test sample is allowed to react sequentially with the two antibodies, resulting in the CA19-9 molecules being sandwiched between the solid phase and enzyme-linked antibodies. After two separate incubation steps at 37
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