First British standard for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)

In 1974, the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) established the first British Standard for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) for use in comparative quantitative assays. The Standard, which was prepared for material processed by the Chester Beatty Research Institute, is in the form of a freeze-dried powder, sealed in all glass ampoules code labelled 73/601 and containing pure dry nitrogen. For practical purposes, each ampoule contains 100 units of CEA activity.