Ovarian Cancer (CA 125) Test
Are you worried you may have ovarian cancer? Do you have symptoms of a swollen tummy or feeling bloated, pain or tenderness in your tummy or the area between the hips (pelvis), no appetite or feeling full quickly after eating; or an urgent need to pee or needing to pee more often. Get peace of mind by getting tested today in the comfort of your own home.


MEDICAL INFORMATION
Ovarian Cancer (CA 125) Test Key Facts
How to use a CA125 home test kit for Ovarian Cancer Screening
You can use our CA125 home test kit in the comfort of your home using our finger-prick blood test kit. We’ll send you everything you need, including instructions and a pre-paid return envelope for your blood sample.
What do elevated CA125 levels mean?
A CA 125 test measures the amount of cancer antigen 125 in the blood. Elevated levels may indicate the presence of cancer or other medical conditions such as liver cirrhosis, diverticulitis, endometriosis, menstruation, noncancerous ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease, pregnancy or uterine fibroids.
When to use a CA125 home test kit and symptoms to look out for
Ovarian cancer is a cancer of the ovaries, the female reproductive glands that store eggs and make female hormones. Symptoms of ovarian cancer do not always occur until the latter stages and so it has been called a “silent disease”. Early detection can be difficult, however elevated levels of CA 125 is seen in 90% of women with advanced ovarian cancer and 50% of women with early-stage ovarian cancer. Symptoms of ovarian cancer are non-specific, but may include abdominal pain and bloating.
CA125 is a tumour marker (a chemical given off by ovarian cancer cells) used to detect for high-risk signs of ovarian cancer. Women with ovarian cancer have higher levels of CA125 in their blood than women who do not.
The CA125 home screening test is useful for monitoring how ovarian carcinoma is responding to treatment or for predicting a patient’s diagnosis after ovarian cancer treatment.
Why monitor CA125 levels at home for early detection of Ovarian Cancer
Survival of ovarian cancer depends on the stage at which the cancer has been diagnosed. 93% of people with a diagnosis of ovarian cancer at the earliest stage survive for 5 years or more, compared to 13% of those diagnosed at the latest stage.
What are the benefits of the CA125 test?
- The home test kits are assembled within the UK
- All test kits are security sealed with confidential health test results
- All laboratory testing is performed in an ISO:15189 accredited clinical laboratory
Frequently Asked Questions about Ovarian Cancer (CA 125) Test
How does the CA125 test detect ovarian cancer?
The CA125 blood test measures the amount of cancer antigen 125 in a blood sample. Women with ovarian cancer usually have higher levels of CA125 in their blood. If you have high CA125 levels, you will need an ultrasound scan of your pelvis.
What are normal and abnormal CA125 levels in a home test?
Normal levels of CA125 in the blood are 35 U/mL or lower. Abnormal levels of CA125 are higher than 40 U/mL.
How accurate are CA125 blood tests compared to clinical tests?
A CA 125 test is not accurate enough for ovarian cancer screening because high levels of CA 125 can be an indication of other medical conditions.
Can elevated CA125 levels indicate conditions other than cancer?
Yes. The CA125 biomarker can also be used to detect pancreatic, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancers. High levels of CA 125 are common in perimenopausal women and a number of benign conditions.
What should I do if my CA125 home test results are positive?
A positive home CA125 test result does not always mean you have ovarian cancer. It should however lead to a follow-up referral for further investigation. Your healthcare provider may want to carry out further tests if they suspect you have ovarian cancer or another type of cancer. Doctors may conduct imaging tests like transvaginal ultrasounds, CT scans, or a surgical biopsy.
Service Guide
Everything You Need to Know About Home Health Testing
What is the Home Health Testing Service and how does it work?
Blood tests are a convenient way for you to investigate your health concerns. NowPatient’s Home Health Testing allows you to test hundreds of different biomarkers which can help confirm if your health concerns are valid or simply give you peace of mind that you are in good health.
See the video below to learn about how the service works:
What is a biomarker?
A biomarker, or biological marker, is something that can be measured to provide information about an individual’s health or the presence of disease. In the NowPatient Home Health Tests, biomarkers are used to identify normal or abnormal processes in the body, detect illnesses, monitor how a disease is progressing, or determine how well a treatment is working.
The Importance of Biomarkers include:
- Enable early detection of diseases
- Assist in selecting the right treatments
- Help monitor recovery or treatment success
- Provide a picture of overall or specific health status
What Health Tests does NowPatient offer in the UK?
NowPatient offers the following Home Health Tests for UK customers:
- Kidney Function test
- Liver Function test
- Vitamin D test
- Testosterone test
- Cholesterol test
- Diabetes test
- Syphilis test
- Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea test
- Ovarian Cancer (CA 125) test
- HIV test
- 7 in 1 STI test
- Nuts and seeds allergy test
- Food allergy test
- Milk and Milk proteins allergy test
- Shellfish allergy test
- Atopic Dermatitis/Eczema Profile test
- Allergic Rhinitis/Asthma Profile test
What Health Tests does NowPatient offer in the US?
NowPatient offers the following Home Health Tests for US customers:
- 2 Panel STI test
- 6 Panel STI test
- 10 Panel STI test
- Testosterone test
- Men’s Panel hormone test
- Women’s Panel test
Is this a safe service?
Yes. For UK users, our laboratory operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is the UK’s largest diagnostic laboratory service which is UKAS and ISO-certified.
For US users, our American laboratory is CLIA-certified and registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Our telehealth clinicians review your test results and schedule a live virtual consultation to explain the findings. After the discussion, the results are made available in your account for viewing or download, so you can easily share them with your doctor.
Are Home Health Testing kits reliable?
Yes. Our UK kits are certified by UKAS and CE-marked. Our US kits are CLIA-certified and registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Health
- Test kits have an outer seal design, with the product and regulatory information and a tamper-proof seal
- UK Test kits are registered with the Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for distribution in the UK only
- US Test kits are registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Health
- Test kits are available in multi-language translations
- Each test kit contains a warnings and precautions section with detailed information for the healthcare organisation and yourself as the patient
- Video instructions supporting the specific sample collection are provided with each Self-Collect kit. Videos are designed to emphasise the important steps associated with capillary blood sampling and do not supersede or replace the specific end-user instructions provided with each kit
Is the service available in the United States and the United Kingdom?
Yes. This service is available in the United Kingdom and the United States.
Do I need to pay for this service?
Yes, this is currently a private service. However, in the UK, this may change and may be funded by the NHS, in the future. In the US, it may be possible it is covered by insurance, but this depends on your health plan.
How do I use the NowPatient Home Health Testing Service?
Navigate to the Home Health Testing Service Card which can be found in the ‘Private Care’ section of the account homepage.
Choose ‘View Tests’ from the Options Menu on the Home Health Testing Service Card. You can now start by entering the name of the test you’re interested in using the search box.
Or, browse the full range of tests available from NowPatient. To learn more about a specific test and its benefits, click ‘View Test’.
Once you’ve made your choice, click ‘Add to Cart’ to proceed.
Follow the steps below to complete your purchase:
What Happens Next:
- Home Test Kit Delivery
Your Home Health Testing Kit will be delivered to your home or preferred address. - Collect Your Sample
Follow the step-by-step instructions included in the kit to collect your sample. - Return Your Sample
Use the prepaid return packaging provided to send your sample back to our laboratory. - Processing & Notification
Once your sample has been analysed, you’ll receive a notification letting you know your results are ready. - Book Your Consultation
Schedule an appointment with one of our licensed clinicians to review your results. Follow the instructions below to book:How to Book a Consultation With NowPatient - View Your Results
After your consultation, your results will be available in the ‘Reports & Letters’ section on the account homepage.
How do I return the sample to your laboratory?
We supply you with a return system package. Use this to send back the sample. Samples are fully tracked and can be posted from any Royal Mail post box, for UK customers, or USPS, for US customers.
How long does it take to get the test results back?
Test results can take up to 10 working days to process from the day we receive your sample back.
What happens during the consultation?
Here’s how the virtual consultation will generally go:
- Introduction & Verification
The clinician will begin by introducing themselves and confirming your identity to ensure privacy and confidentiality. - Review of Test Results
They will walk you through your test results, explaining what each value means in simple, understandable terms.For example, if your cholesterol is high, they’ll explain how that might affect your health. - Personalized Interpretation
The clinician will consider your health history, lifestyle, and any symptoms you report to provide context. This helps them give a more accurate, personalised interpretation of your results. - Health Advice & Recommendations
Based on your results, the clinician may offer advice such as lifestyle changes, dietary suggestions, or recommend further testing or follow-up care.If the results indicate something that needs medical attention, they may advise you to consult your doctor or specialist. - Answering Your Questions
You’ll have time to ask questions or discuss any concerns. The goal is to make sure you understand your health status and next steps clearly. - Next Steps & Support
After the consultation, your results and a summary of the discussion will be made available in the ‘Reports & Letters’ section on your account homepage.
Are my results confidential?
Yes, we follow strict General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) which came into force in May 2018. This places legal requirements on ourselves to ensure your personal data is managed securely with utmost confidentiality. Records are maintained of the processing that is carried out and reported when breaches of the regulation do occur. Our platform is also HIPAA compliant which means we are able to handle PHI (Personal Health Information) securely.
Are you able to prescribe a treatment plan, if my results indicate I need treatment?
For UK users, our prescribing clinicians may be able to provide a private treatment plan, subject to their clinical judgment. Unfortunately, we do not operate a service where you can request a certain medication.
What are the limitations of the Home Health Testing service?
All test kits have a certain level of inaccuracy, therefore results can only be taken as estimates. It should be noted that all tests are performed in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and test performance is regularly monitored through internal and external quality control for test result interpretation.
We do not recommend sending samples back between Friday noon and Monday morning due to delays.
Are there any concerns or risks I need to be aware of?
Tests cannot be performed if samples fall short of the quality, volume, or other eligibility criteria. In these cases, the laboratory may need to reject the samples, and not carry out processing. Sometimes the laboratory is able to rectify a situation and although turnaround times may be affected, it avoids having to arrange for samples to be taken again.
Tests cannot be performed if:
- incorrect sample types are received
- samples are received unprotected from light when they are required to be covered at the point of venepuncture
- samples are received in incorrect containers
- no sample received
- samples mislabelled, unlabelled, or with no forms, or no clinical information
- samples are broken or have leaked in transit
- samples are contaminated (e.g. being in the same bag as a leaking sample)
- sample stability time has been exceeded (stability time is test dependent, and also refers to tests that can only be carried out on certain days of the week)
- samples are received in expired tubes
- the laboratory will not accept samples packaged with needles of any kind