IHC Marker-CA-IX (Carbonic Anhydrase IX) Test: Booking, Price, and Results
About IHC Marker-CA-IX (Carbonic Anhydrase IX) Test: Booking, Price, and Results
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | CAIX, CA-9, CA9, the MN antigen, G250 antigen, Carbonate dehydratase IX |
| Sample Type | Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue block |
| Fasting Required | No fasting required |
| Report Time | 3 days |
| Recommended For | Patients with suspected kidney cancer or solid tumours requiring tissue subtyping |
| Price | Starting at ₹1,920 |
What is an IHC Marker-CA-IX (Carbonic Anhydrase IX) Test?
The IHC marker-CA-IX test is a specialised laboratory test that detects the presence and expression of the CAIX protein in tissue samples. It uses immunohistochemistry (IHC), a technique in which antibodies are applied to thin tissue sections to highlight specific proteins. Doctors order this test when a biopsy or surgical specimen needs to be examined for kidney tumour subtyping or cancer characterisation. The test goes by several alternate names, including CA-9, the MN antigen, and Carbonate dehydratase IX.
What Does an IHC Marker-CA-IX (Carbonic Anhydrase IX) Test Measure?
This test detects the expression of the CAIX protein within tumour tissue. The table below outlines what the test evaluates.
| Component | What It Tells Us |
|---|---|
| CA-IX protein expression | Whether the CAIX protein is present in the tissue |
| Staining intensity | How strongly the protein is expressed (weak, moderate, or strong) |
| Percentage of cells stained | Proportion of tumour cells showing CA-IX expression |
| Staining pattern | Typically membranous (on cell surfaces) in clear cell kidney cancer |
CAIX is an enzyme that helps regulate the pH balance inside and around cells. It is also involved in cell growth and cancer formation. In clear cell renal cell carcinoma (a common type of kidney cancer), this protein is strongly and widely expressed, making it a useful marker for diagnosis and tumour characterisation.
Why is an IHC Marker-CA-IX (Carbonic Anhydrase IX) Test Done?
This test is performed when a pathologist needs to identify or confirm the type of tumour present in a tissue sample. It is particularly useful in kidney cancer diagnosis and in assessing tumours at other sites.
Common Symptoms That May Require This Test
A doctor may recommend this test following a biopsy if you have presented with any of the following:
- Blood in urine (haematuria)
- A mass or lump detected in the kidney on imaging
- Unexplained flank or back pain
- Unintended weight loss alongside urinary symptoms
- Fever without a clear cause, associated with a kidney or abdominal mass
- Fatigue linked to suspected cancer of unknown primary site
- An incidentally detected renal tumour on routine imaging
Conditions This Test Can Help Detect
The IHC marker-CA-IX test assists in identifying and distinguishing the following conditions:
- Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), the most common kidney cancer subtype
- Clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma
- Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (cancer of the bile ducts within the liver)
- Tumour hypoxia (low oxygen within the tumour environment) in various solid cancers
- Non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer, cervical cancer, and head and neck tumours, where CA-9 expression carries prognostic significance
- Metastatic kidney cancer presenting at distant sites with unclear origin
How to Prepare and What to Expect
Because this test is performed on tissue already collected through a biopsy or surgery, your preparation primarily involves ensuring the tissue is properly handled and documented before submission to the laboratory.
Do You Need to Fast?
No fasting is required for this test. The sample is a tissue block, not blood or urine, so dietary restrictions do not apply.
Practical Tips Before Your Test
Please keep the following points in mind before submitting your sample:
- Bring your complete clinical history, including symptoms, previous test results, and family history, as this is required for the test
- Carry all existing pathology blocks, biopsy reports, and surgical pathology records to the laboratory
- Ensure the tissue sample and block are properly labelled with your full name and date of birth
- Tissue must have been collected by a qualified healthcare professional through a biopsy or surgical procedure
- The specimen should have been fixed in 10% neutral-buffered formalin, ideally for 12 to 24 hours and not exceeding 48 hours
Step-by-Step Procedure
The steps below describe how your tissue sample is processed in the laboratory after collection.
- Your doctor collects tissue through a biopsy or surgical procedure and preserves it in formalin solution to maintain the cellular structure.
- Laboratory staff embed the fixed tissue in paraffin wax to create an FFPE tissue block, which is then submitted to the Lupin Diagnostics laboratory.
- Technicians cut extremely thin sections (approximately 4 to 5 microns thick) from the block and place them on glass slides.
- A heat or enzyme-based antigen retrieval process is used to expose proteins that may have been masked during fixation, allowing antibodies to bind effectively.
- A specific antibody targeting the CAIX protein is applied to the slide. A coloured dye (chromogen) makes the protein visible under a microscope.
- A trained pathologist examines the stained slides and reports the staining pattern, intensity, and percentage of positive cells.
Factors That Can Affect Accuracy
Several factors can influence the reliability of IHC results. These include:
- Quality and duration of tissue fixation before the block is submitted
- Delay between tissue collection and placement in formalin
- Quality of the antibody used in the laboratory
- Laboratory processing technique and equipment
- Experience and expertise of the reporting pathologist
Understanding Your IHC Marker-CA-IX (Carbonic Anhydrase IX) Results
Results from this test are reported qualitatively and interpreted by a pathologist. The table below provides a general guide to what different findings may indicate.
| Result | Typical Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Strong membranous staining (positive) | Supports diagnosis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma or clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma |
| Negative or weak staining | Makes clear cell RCC less likely; suggests chromophobe RCC, oncocytoma, or another tumour type |
| Positive in non-renal tissue | May indicate intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma or tumour hypoxia in other solid cancers |
These ranges are general guidelines. Your doctor will interpret your results based on your age, health history, and other factors. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised medical advice.
Results During Special Conditions
Certain situations can affect how results are interpreted.
- In gastrointestinal tissue, moderate to strong CA-IX expression may be seen in normal cells of the stomach lining, small intestine, and gallbladder. This normal expression must be considered when evaluating tissue from these sites.
- In clear cell RCC specifically, most tumour cells carry a mutation in the VHL gene that activates CA-IX expression even when oxygen levels are normal. This means a positive result in this context does not necessarily reflect tissue hypoxia.
- Poor tissue fixation can produce weak or artefactual staining that may lead to an inaccurate result.
How to Maintain Healthy Levels
This test is performed on tumour tissue and does not have a "healthy level" in the conventional sense. The following general points support overall kidney and cancer health awareness:
- Attend routine health check-ups, particularly if you have a family history of kidney disease or cancer
- Report symptoms such as blood in urine or persistent flank pain to your doctor promptly for timely imaging and evaluation
- Avoid smoking, maintain a healthy weight, and stay adequately hydrated to support kidney and overall health
Lupin Diagnostics IHC Marker-CA-IX (Carbonic Anhydrase IX) Test Price
The IHC marker-CA-IX test at Lupin Diagnostics starts at ₹1,920. This test requires a visit to a Lupin Diagnostics centre or submission of a prepared FFPE tissue block through your treating doctor; home collection is not available for this test.
| City | Approximate Price (₹) |
|---|---|
| BHOPAL | 1920 |
| CHENNAI | 1920 |
| HYDERABAD | 1920 |
| KOLKATA | 1920 |
| NAVI MUMBAI | 1920 |
| PUNE | 1920 |
Disclaimer: Prices are indicative and may vary by location. Please confirm the current price at the time of booking.
How to Book
Follow these steps to book your test at Lupin Diagnostics:
- Select the IHC marker-CA-IX test on the Lupin Diagnostics website.
- Choose your city and preferred centre location.
- Visit the centre at your scheduled time to submit your FFPE tissue block and clinical documents.
- Receive your report via email or WhatsApp within the stipulated turnaround time.
Frequently Asked Questions
The CAIX IHC marker test helps pathologists identify and subtype kidney tumours, particularly clear cell renal cell carcinoma. It is also used to assess CA-9 expression in other solid tumours such as bile duct cancer, lung cancer, and breast cancer, where it can carry prognostic significance.
The tissue is obtained through a biopsy or surgery performed by a qualified healthcare professional in a clinical setting. Home sample collection is not available for this test. Once collected, the tissue is preserved in formalin and submitted as an FFPE block to the laboratory.
At Lupin Diagnostics, results are typically available within 3 days of the laboratory receiving the FFPE tissue block. Turnaround may vary depending on specimen quality and the complexity of analysis required.
A positive result, shown as strong staining of cell membranes, supports a diagnosis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma. However, it must always be interpreted alongside other clinical findings, imaging results, and the full histopathological picture by a qualified pathologist.
CAIX expression can reflect significant changes in tumour biology and may help identify patients who are at higher risk or who might respond to certain targeted therapies. Your oncologist will discuss what the result means for your specific situation.
Yes, in limited locations. The MN antigen is normally expressed in cells lining the glandular stomach, small intestine, and gallbladder. It is not typically expressed in normal kidney tubules or in most other normal tissues, which makes it useful as a diagnostic marker for kidney cancer.
IHC is a well-established technique with accuracy that can exceed 90% for validated markers when performed correctly. The reliability of this test depends on tissue fixation quality, laboratory technique, antibody quality, and the expertise of the reporting pathologist.
IHC Marker-CA-IX (Carbonic Anhydrase IX) Test: Booking, Price, and Results
