CA 125 test at home in Dubai

CA 125, ovarian. A protein found on the surface of some cells, including those lining the pelvis and abdomen. The level in the blood can rise with many common, non-cancer conditions.

CA 125 is often called an ovarian cancer marker, but that label is misleading on its own. The level moves with the menstrual cycle and can be raised by period pain conditions, fibroids, pregnancy and inflammation anywhere in the abdomen or pelvis. Levels also tend to be higher before the menopause than after it.

Because so many things raise it, CA 125 is not recommended as a screening test for women without symptoms or a known risk. On the screen it gives a baseline reading to sit alongside your other results, not a verdict. A raised result is not a diagnosis of cancer, and a normal result does not rule it out. What matters most is how you feel, so persistent symptoms are always a reason to see your own doctor, whatever the number shows.

• Wanting a baseline reading alongside the rest of the screen
• Bloating that lasts most days for several weeks
• Pelvic or tummy pain that does not settle
• Feeling full quickly or a change in appetite
• A close relative who has had ovarian or breast cancer

• If you can, book the draw away from your period, as CA 125 can rise during it.
• Tell your consultant if you are or might be pregnant, or if you have endometriosis or fibroids.
• Follow the fasting instructions for the full screen.

Reference ranges differ between labs, and a single result is a snapshot. Your consultant reads every value against your history and the rest of the screen, not in isolation.

This test is part of Baseline’s full blood screen: 122 parameters across ten systems from one draw, for AED 850, with results in 48 hours. It is not sold as a single test, because the result means more next to everything else.

• Nurse comes to you. A licensed phlebotomist visits your home or office, 7 days a week, anywhere in the UAE.
• Accredited lab. Samples are processed by a CAP-accredited laboratory (College of American Pathologists), also accredited to ISO 15189, against clinical reference ranges.
• Reviewed with you. Results land in your account in Baseline format, and your consultant walks you through them on video, never a PDF dumped in your inbox.

Your results arrive in the Baseline app, every marker against the lab’s own range, checked by your consultant before you see them. The values above are an example.

See everything the screen covers

Does a high CA 125 mean I have ovarian cancer?

No. A raised CA 125 is not a diagnosis. Periods, endometriosis, fibroids, pregnancy and inflammation are common causes. A raised result does need follow-up with your own doctor.

Is CA 125 a screening test for ovarian cancer?

Not for women without symptoms or a known risk. It is not recommended for that, because it is raised by so many other things. On the screen it is a baseline reading, read with your other results.

When in my cycle should I have the test?

Away from your period if you can, since CA 125 can rise during it. If that is not possible, tell your consultant where you are in your cycle.

Can I book a CA 125 test on its own?

No. CA 125 is part of the Cancer Markers section of the full home screen, measured from the same single draw as the other 121 parameters.

Related tests

• PSA test
• Hormone test
• Full blood count test
• Iron test

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you feel unwell, or your symptoms are new or getting worse, speak to a doctor.