Table 1 Descriptive statistics of the subjects and results of the interference studies.

From: Polyethylene glycol precipitation is a useful method for excluding the interference of unexplained elevated CA 19-9

Characteristics

Positive controls (n = 130)

Non-interference cases

n = 265

Interference cases

n = 77

Pancreatic cancer

n = 48

Cholangiocarcinoma

n = 35

Rectal cancer

n = 47

Age years (median, IQR)

67 (58–74)

67 (62–71)

61 (54–67)

42 (31–61)

48 (36–58)

Sex (M/F)

     

27/21

20/15

34/13

53/212

32/45

CA19-9 U/ml (median, IQR)

     

825.1 (579.4–3116.4)

567.0 (250.8–2752.6)

192.3 (104.4–1087.9)

88.10 (67.30–131.50)

149.80 (89.97–255.43)

PEG(N)

10

77

HBR(N)

7

39

DIL(N)

3

2

2

12

21

RF(N)

2

3

-

10

8

GFC(N)

71

  1. M/F Male/Female, IQR interquartile range, PEG Polyethylene glycol precipitation, HBR Heterophile blocking reagent treatment, DIL Gradient dilution assay, RF Rheumatoid factor assay, GFC Gel filtration chromatography assay.