Ultrasensitive PSA tests in US, how low to they go?

[TJGuy]

I'm looking to find out how to get a ultrasensitive PSA test in the US that reports as low as possible.

To date the most sensitive test I have used is Labcorp test number 140731 which reported to <0.014

So I'm following my PSA down and it's fallen below 0.014

Has anyone in the US had PSA tests in the last 6 months or so that go lower?

Do any go to 0.001 or 0.000?

I'm aware some will say to what point as your treated based on 0.1 but let's avoid that discussion.

I'm on the east coast.

Thanks

[Tall_Allen]

Below 0.01, you will get noise from non-prostatic sources of PSA. In fact, values below 0.03 give false positives, as you can read in this article I co-authored in the Journal of Urology.

auajournals.org/article/S00...

Johns Hopkins has a super-ultrasensitive PSA test that they used to find the non-prostatic sources. I don't know if it's commercially available.

[Boywonder56 in reply to Tall_Allen]

My trials the Titan one they use something out of Indianapolis, mynadir was 007

[EdBar in reply to Tall_Allen]

There doesn’t appear to be access to this article.

[Tall_Allen in reply to EdBar]

They put it behind a paywall. But that is what I wrote and the author of the original Johns Hopkins article replied back that she agreed.

[Steve507 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Can I find your article gratis via another link?

[LowT]

The LabCorp I use goes to 0.006

[TJGuy in reply to LowT]

Are you able to see your test report on the Labcorp website? If so Can you select a PSA test, and when it opens, can you see what the title of the test was?

I see "PSA, Ultrasensitive W/O Serial" on the test the doctor ordered for me (test 140731)

Could yours possible say the same as mine or perhaps say

something like "PSA, Ultrasensitive with Serial monitoring" I know there is such a test as well with test number 140723.

So here is the confusion. Labcorp corporate said it will go to 0.006. But I find Labcorp personnel to I guess I would say struggle when you request something different.

My doctor's office doesn't think it's any different from test 140731, except you get some fancy color history of tests? So they didn't order the one I requested.

It seems some on this website PSA sensitivity on reports from Labcorp changed in what they "report" back about a year ago from 0.006 to 0.014.

So I am wondering if the other test still would report to the lower level.

I understand the cost of test 140731 to be $139

And the cost of test 140723 to be $161.

I'm wondering if both tests may actually produce results to 0.006 or below but they only report to either 0.014 or 0.006 depending on the test you request and if you pay more to see to the lower level?

[Da64326 in reply to TJGuy]

i just spoke to the folks at labcorp......for what its worth they told me that the 140731 test and the 140723 test are identical except for the serial monitoring.

i asked about lower limits and was told that if your test is done in tampa florida or raritan nj, its the same lower limit. i have been told by others that they just increased the lower limit and now the test is <0.014......

i guess the only way to find out is to try the serial testing and see if this is indeed true.

if i had to guess they changed the lower limit based on issues with the test. i'm suspicious that another possibility is that different regional labs may be using different lower limits.

labcorp states that is not the case......but given the comments from different users here i just dont know.

for what its worth my test was tampa florida facility on may 1 2021 with a lower limit <0.014. it was the 140731 non serial monitoring test,

[Hidden]

Don't stress yourself over an ultra sensitive test. If your at <0.1, your good to go.

[LowT]

LabCorp changed their lower limit July 2017 from <0.010 to <0.006. My reports list result as "PSA Ultra, W/Serial Monitor". Doesn't seem like this would be helpful in your situation. I think "with Serial Monitor" costs a little more.

[TJGuy in reply to LowT]

Thanks LowT, you confirmed what I hoped.

Your Labcorp "Ultrasensitive PSA with serial monitoring" went to <0.006.

So that is Labcorp test 140723.That is what I want at this time.

My approach is to pay for the only the senitivity that makes sense and tells you what actually happening with your PSA.

Meaning as you drop below the sensitivity of a test you move to the next more sensitive test.

If your PSA increases you move the otherway to a less sensitive test that will still show your actual value.

I'm looking for my nadir and may make a determination whether to stay on ADT for just a little longer if it keeps driving lower.

[EdBar]

The Labcorp I use goes to 0.016

[LearnAll]

Testing ultraSensitive PSA is useless esp.in men who still have their prostate gland. It can cause more confusion. Regular Total PSA is a better for men with prostate.

[TJGuy]

I tried both of the Labcorp ultrasensitive tests and they both came back as <0.014.

So I read an article with a Dr from Duke University Health System in that article he mentioned PSA tests to 0.001

I called and confirmed twice that their standard ultrasensitive PSA test measures to 0.001

I have scheduled myself to obtain the ultrasensitive PSA tests there.

It will be a few months but I see if that is so.

[Da64326 in reply to TJGuy]

Many thx. You saved me a trip and a test to see if the serial test was different than the non serial test. would be curious to see how the duke test plays out

[TJGuy]

Well I went to Duke Clinic in Durham NC.

I had been told the ultrasensitive PSA test reported to 0.000 over the phone.

I met with the Dr that I read about in the ultrasensitive PSA article I had found previously.

He said that article was back in realm of like 2014.

He said the senitivity to 0.000 or 0.001 looked promising from a technical standpoint but was not successful from a economic point of view. So it was abandoned.

They have a test to 0.01 which I took

And for me it showed <0.01