Rapid radioimmunoassay of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in ultrafiltered perchloric acid extracts: results of a clinical survey.

Perchloric acid treatment of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) results in subunits of approximate mol. wt 40 000 to 50 000 with different electrophoretic mobilities and amtogenic deficiences as demonstrated by immunoelectrophoresis. An improved radioimmunoassay is described for the quantitation of CEA using rapid ultrafiltration of serum or plasma extracts. The assay was designed to take into account the changes CEA undergoes during perchloric acid extraction. Absorption of antibodies against a crossreacting non-specific antigen from CEA antiserum did not improve the specificity of the radioimmunoassay as was shown by clinical use of the test in almost 1800 patients.