Blue Horizon Medicals Cancer screening

CA 19-9 Tumour Marker Blood Test (Cancer Antigen 19-9)

A blood test for CA 19-9, a tumour marker used alongside other investigations to monitor a known condition or treatment response, not as a stand-alone screening test.

  • Doctor reviewed
Sample
Blood
Collection
Venous draw at clinic or nurse home visit
Results in
1 day
Biomarkers
1
Doctor reviewed
Yes
Tests for
  • CA 19-9

Test specifications

Provider
Blue Horizon Medicals
Sample type
blood
Collection method
venous draw at clinic or nurse home visit
Turnaround time
1 day
Biomarkers tested
1
At-home test
No
Doctor reviewed
Yes
Gender focus
Both

What's tested

1 biomarker as listed by Blue Horizon Medicals.

  • CA 19-9

About this test

CA 19-9 is a tumour marker that can be raised in certain cancers, but the provider is clear that this is not a diagnostic test or a general screening test for cancer. It is more often used alongside other clinical investigations to monitor someone with a known condition, check how they are responding to treatment, or track changes over time, and a raised result can also be caused by benign conditions such as gallstones, pancreatitis, bile duct obstruction or liver disease.

As a single-marker test it sits toward the lower end of the cancer screening tests we track for depth. It is priced below the median for similarly sized cancer screening tests we track, with collection needing a venous draw at a clinic or nurse visit and results back in around a day. The listing is detailed, with a thorough description explaining what the marker is and is not used for, plus a clear biomarker, sample type, turnaround and collection options.

Blue Horizon Medicals has traded since 2009, uses UKAS ISO 15189 partner labs, and has a Trustpilot score of 4.2 from 395 reviews. Results are reviewed by a doctor.

Who is it for?

This is intended for monitoring alongside other investigations, for example if you or a specialist are already tracking a known condition or treatment response, rather than as a general check if you have no existing diagnosis or symptoms. The provider is explicit that results should be interpreted by a doctor alongside your symptoms, history, imaging and other lab results, so this is not a test to read in isolation. We do not have peer tests logged in this comparison group, so we cannot compare it directly with other providers' CA 19-9 tests.

How it works

A healthcare professional takes a venous blood sample at a clinic or during a home nurse visit; there is no at-home collection option for this test. The lab measures your CA 19-9 level, and a doctor reviews the result before it is released to you, typically within around 1 day.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Below the median price for similarly sized cancer screening tests we track.
  • Fast turnaround of around 1 day.
  • Listing is explicit about what the test is and is not used for.
  • Doctor review included as standard.

Cons

  • No at-home collection option, only a venous draw.
  • Not a diagnostic or screening test, and several benign conditions can raise the result.
  • Best interpreted alongside other tests and imaging, not on its own.

Our editorial score

Compare Health Test Score CA 19-9 monitoring marker, not a screening test
Editorial confidence: 10.0/10

Monitoring an existing condition, rather than screening for a new one, is what CA 19-9 is used for, and that is how the provider frames this £64.25 test. It is priced below the median for similarly sized cancer screening tests we track, needs a venous draw at a clinic or nurse visit, and results come back within around a day. A raised result can also be caused by several benign conditions.

Score breakdown

  • Clarity and documentation 9.0/10

    The listing publishes a detailed description, the full biomarker list, a stated turnaround, clear collection options, the sample type; it does not state what the report looks like.

  • Clinical depth 6.4/10

    1 biomarkers, placing it in the 32nd percentile of cancer screening tests we track.

  • Collection convenience 10.0/10

    A blood sample taken at home by a visiting nurse or phlebotomist; with a venous or clinic option as well; a home nurse visit is offered; results in around 1 days, well ahead of the cancer screening norm of 5.

  • Results and follow-up 7.0/10

    Results are reviewed by a doctor; the provider does not describe the report format.

  • Trust signals 7.5/10

    Trustpilot 4.2 from 395 reviews; accredited lab (UKAS ISO 15189 partner labs); trading 17+ years.

  • Value for money 7.4/10

    £64.25 against a median of £79.00 for the 19 similarly sized cancer screening tests we track (-19%).

Calculated 13 September 2026 from the facts we hold about this test and provider, using our published scoring formula. Scores are not hand-edited.

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