Five months ago I posted that I went from an ultra sensitive psa of <.006 to <.014 and people experienced the same with their psa test from labcorp changing their assay. Just got my latest psa of <.031 so I am concerned with the doubling from <.014 to <.031. So I am wondering if labcorp changed the assay again or does it even matter since it’s still undetectable? Thanks in advance for your response.
Mike
Written by
Mikes21
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Same here. There is NIH research that concludes that some therapies are more effective if the PSA threshold is lower than what a standard test can measure. My SOC MO wants me to do uPSA. I don't argue on that one.
Just use Quest for the test. They don't do ultrasensitive. My uro always writes the script for ultra, and he gets regular from Quest (and I can sleep at night.)
No. For 2.5 years it has consistently been <0.02, the lowest level my Quest Diagnostics lab can detect. I was a Ductal Adenocarcinoma Gleason 8 with a pre surgery PSA of 5.2. Post surgery pT2 with a 2mm focal positive margin.
My GP used a lab that uses Siemens machine when I got my annual physical and my PSA was 0.03. I then used my Urologists normal lab (Quest) that uses Beckman Coulter machine and my PSA was <0.02. Conclusion: Beckman Coulter machines will give you a lower value.
Interesting - here is verbatim the wording from my Quest report:
==========================================
PSA, TOTAL
<0.1 Reference Range: < OR = 4.0 ng/mL
The total PSA value from this assay system is
standardized against the WHO standard. The test
result will be approximately 20% lower when compared
to the equimolar-standardized total PSA (Beckman
Coulter). Comparison of serial PSA results should be
interpreted with this fact in mind.
This test was performed using the Siemens
chemiluminescent method. Values obtained from
different assay methods cannot be used
interchangeably. PSA levels, regardless of
value, should not be interpreted as absolute
evidence of the presence or absence of disease
Performing Sites
QTE Quest Diagnostics-Teterboro, One Malcolm Ave, Teterboro, NJ 07608-1011 Laboratory Director: Lawrence Tsao MD
==========================================
So - ??? I've had probably 12-15 tests done by them - and it's always the same reference to the Siemens machine.
FWIW - I've discussed the significance of this with my med-onc (Dr. Charles Drake) and he agreed with me that the high-sensitivity readings are really unnecessary and can be misleading, especially if you had any treatment other than RP. Ones that are focal can end up leaving a small amount of un-cancerous prostate tissues that will make the ultra-sensitive readouts bounce around.
If I had a choice - I'd still go for the one I'm getting - the non-ultra-sensitive read since I don't need to be kept awake nights for differences that really aren't significant.
YMMV it seems, depending on the Quest lab your samples are sent to.
Interesting, I’m due for labs next week, I always get the ultra sensitive test and prefer to. It doesn’t cause anxiety and I want an early heads up if it becomes detectable again so I can plot a course of action. As several others have said, as long as it’s still < you’re good to go.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.