Brain cramp re: PSA reading

[Jscjac]

Is a PSA reading of .1 considered to be “undetectable” ?

[spinosa]

depends on the assay, and who's interpreting it. I had my psa go up to .1 for three years before I finally failed, but it was not considered undetectable during that time.

[Jscjac in reply to spinosa]

Thank you ! I thought I had read that .01 is considered undetectable. I just couldn’t remember. My brain is in OVERLOAD mode right now.

[FCoffey]

From a purely technical viewpoint, its not undetectable because the test detected it.

It also depends on your own history. If you still have your prostate, 0.1 is extremely low. If your prostate has been removed, it's a completely different story.

[Jscjac in reply to FCoffey]

Husband had RP in Sept. 2017. Started Lupron later that month. Added Zytiga/prednisone in Feb. 2018.

[Tall_Allen]

Not unless it is preceded by a "less than" sign. So <0.1 means it was undetectable by that test, but 0.1 means that it was detected.

[Jscjac in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thank you, Tall Allen. It was preceded by the < sign. He is Stage 4, metastatic, and still hormone resistant, so maybe this is as good as it gets for him (in terms of PSA reading) ?

[Tall_Allen in reply to Jscjac]

That is certainly a great response! It is as good as it gets for that PSA test, not for just him, but for anyone using that test. There are ultrasensitive PSA tests that can detect lower PSA values, but there is really no point for him because it wouldn't make any difference in his treatment.

[Hidden]

At the university of Michigan cancer center, they consider <0.1 undetectable. They don't go any lower. If your psa is 0.08, U of M will report it at <0.1.

[Jscjac in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the info, Bill48162. We are At Vanderbilt and are guessing they do the same. We will be sure to find out when we see the oncologist tomorrow.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Same for Quest labs where my labwork is processed.

[Hidden]

Funny thing is, the VA goes down to 0.01. Go figure.

[j-o-h-n]

I am > confused now and was < confused before.

Good Luck and Good Health.

j-o-h-n Thursday 05/17/2018 4:23 PM EDT

[duplooyjj]

After a prostatectomy with a 0.1 psa reading for several years now I consider myself clean.