Chromogranin A, LC/MS/MS

CgA, Chromogranin A, Serum

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1232006, Beaker: Chromo A, Quest: 31911

Department

Send Outs

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): One plain Red-top tube. 

Do not use Serum Separator Tubes (SST).

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Transfer serum to a plastic transport tube immediately and freeze (-20°C/-4°F or below) prior to transport.

NOTE: Do not store refrigerated.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 1.0 mL serum, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 0.5 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.
• Grossly hemolyzed.

In-Lab Processing

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Transfer serum to a plastic transport tube immediately and frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below).

NOTE: Do not store refrigerated.

Transport: 1.0 mL serum, room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F). (Minimum: 0.5 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 7 days
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): Unacceptable
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 90 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Quest Diagnostics, Wood Dale, IL.

Performed

Monday – Saturday.
Results available in 3-5 days.

Reference Range

Adults

<311 ng/mL

Test Methodology

Chromatography / Mass Spectrometry

Clinical Utility

Chromogranin-A (CgA) is an acidic glycoprotein expressed in the secretory granules of most normal and neoplastic neuroendocrine (NE) cell types, where it is released together with peptide hormones and biogenic amines. Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a form of cancer that differ from other neoplasia in that they synthesize, store, and secrete peptides, e.g., CgA and amines. CgA is secreted from neuroendocrine-derived tumors including foregut, midgut and hindgut gastrointestinal NETs, pheochromocytomas, neuroblastomas, medullary thyroid carcinomas, some pituitary tumors, functioning and non-functioning pancreatic NETs.

Significantly elevated CgA levels have been found in patients with other diseases, such as impaired renal function, untreated benign essential hypertension, gastritis, prostatic carcinoma, and hyperparathyroidism. The best-characterized circulating biomarker that identifies NETs in general is CgA. Monitoring blood CgA levels may effectively provide information that is helpful in delineating tumor burden and rate of tumor growth, predicting tumor response to therapy and providing some indication as to prognosis.

CPT Codes

86316

Contacts

Last Updated

12/17/2025