Skip to main content
Woman does analyze in a laboratory
December 6, 2017

CLIENT NOTICE - ONTARIO: CHANGE TO CEA TESTING METHODOLOGY

​On December 11th, 2017 LifeLabs will introduce a new methodology for carcinoembrionic antigen (CEA) testing, based on the Roche Cobas system.

Please note that patients whose samples are sent to hospital laboratories with the Cancer Care Ontario CEA requisition form are not affected by this change.

The change will only affect patients whose CEA levels are currently monitored at LifeLabs.

Due to the methodology change there will be a new reference cut-off of “<4.7 µg/L” which will be noted on reports. Also, individual patient results may shift significantly. To assist result interpretation, LifeLabs will be testing all patient samples in parallel on the current Abbott Architect methodology and the new Roche Cobas methodology until June 11th, 2018. We strongly recommend that health care providers have their patients tested for CEA before this date (June 11th 2018) in order to obtain results from parallel testing, and thus have baseline results for continued monitoring of CEA levels.

An example of the patient report below indicates the information that will be provided on lab reports during the parallel testing period.

Please contact the LifeLabs Customer Care Centre 1-877-849-3637 for all enquiries. We welcome your feedback!

Patrick St. Louis PhD FCACB Chemistry Discipline Head



For rush results (NAAT within 12 hours and PCR within 24 hours)

  1. Order your FlyClear test and receive your FlyClear test requisition
  2. Book an appointment at a LifeLabs location below.
    • Bring your printed FlyClear requisition and Passport
    • Select your ordered Province’s Rush Test to start booking:
    British Columbia

    6084 Russ Baker Way
    Richmond near Airport

    COVID-19 PCR (24h) / Rush 12h NAAT

    Ontario

    6084 Russ Baker Way
    Richmond near Airport

    COVID-19 PCR (24h)
    Rush 12h NAAT
    Rapid Antigen (2h)

Pre-Departure testing now available from the comfort of your home with MyVisit (Currently Greater Toronto Area only)

  1. Order your FlyClear test and receive your FlyClear test requisition.
  2. Book your Home Visit appointment with the MyVisit portal or, if your flight is within the next five days, contact a MyVisit coordinator 1-416-993-9579 (Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm EST)

MyVisit Pre-departure testing offers:

  • COVID-19 PCR/NAAT swab testing
  • COVID-19 Antibody Blood (serology) testing

The MyVisit fee is $80 per person.

Pre-Departure testing

Book your appointment online here. If your flight is within the next five days and you have received your FlyClear requisition, please contact a MyVisit coordinator 1-416-993-9579 (Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm EST).