Laboratory test variance or ?

[SimMartin]

5 weeks ago I had asked my own physician for a 3 month post radiotherapy PSA and Testosterone done - the PSA was 0.01 and the Testosterone was 0.6nmol/L (17.3ng/dL) - which I felt happy with and seemed good.

A week later I had a bad 12 week implant that bled and bruised badly and I could then feel the implant near skin surface. Everyone says it’s fine and would be working normally which given it is subcutaneous I kind of understood. .

Last week I had my PSA and Testosterone done but with another lab ordered for my oncologist- it came back PSA 0.05 and testosterone 1.04nmol/L (30ng/nL). Now the oncologist thought that was good result 4 months pot RT and 7 months on Zoladex. When I pointed out my results only 4 weeks prior were better it was put down to lab variable or just normal variance.

 Obviously I am not exactly reassured, especially given my concerns re my last Zoladex implant.

 What’s peoples view on this - I know there has been a shift to target castration testosterone level post RT of <20 ng/nL rather than the past <50ng/nL as best prognostic level.

 The question is when you retest and is my concern over the efficacy of the implant reasonable? I just switched from 6 months of 4 weekly to the 12 week implant for convenience! 

[Tall_Allen]

Take both as wins!

[SimMartin in reply to Tall_Allen]

well thanks for that positive note! sometimes I can be a bit too suspicious- past experience not just as a patient, but on behalf my own patients when I was working has made me a double if not tripped checker.

[Hidden]

Lab variables. Ive done the "trust but verify" by using the Walk in Lab with LabQuest, they were close but there was a difference.

I dont use Quest, as their test method doesnt match Kaisers.

[j-o-h-n]

past experience not just as a patient, but on behalf my own patients when I was working has made me a double if not tripped checker.

So what was your line of work where you had your own patients?

Good idea to update your bio..... for particulars.... All info is voluntary.... Thank you.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 05/05/2023 10:44 PM DST

[SimMartin in reply to j-o-h-n]

slow response apologies! I was / am a psychologist specialising in sexual and relationship issues and also chronic illness and disability- amongst the usual - I spent an amazingly interesting 5 years in acute geriatric medicine.