Is PSA Ultra Sensitive test same as PSA Post Prostatectomy test?

[irakor]

My husband 83 yo, diagnosed in 2007 has changed family doctor because our doctor has left the state. Previously, his PSA test was done in Quest, but this time his blood was sent to the hospital lab. Instead of the prescribed PSA Post Prostatectomy test, they did PSA Ultra Sensitive test. We are watching the dynamics, so it is important to know if this is a different test or just a different name of the same test. We would appreciate if anybody can help!

[Justfor_]

The name is irrelevant. The heart of the matter is how many decimal places they report (2 or 3) combined with the lowest reportable value, that is, before the less than sign "<" comes into play.

[irakor in reply to Justfor_]

Thank you, but it's not just the decimal places. There are different types of test that can vary greatly in the absolute value of the PSA result, and not just in the number of digits. E.g. PSA Total and PSA Post Proctectomy. I just wanted to know if anyone came across the name of the test "PSA Ultra Sensitive". Thanks anyway.

[Tall_Allen]

Changing labs may change the results. Ultrasensitive PSA tests will probably have a lowest possible value of about 0.01 ng/ml.

[irakor in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thank you Tal Allen! My husband's monthly PSA was slowly going down for a few months: 1.09, 0.93, 0.86, 0.81. The new PSA value jumped to 0.96 in a month, the new "PSA Ultrasensitive" test was made by a different lab. They claim the test is same as PSA Post Proctectomy. Do you think such a difference can be caused by a change of laboratories? Thank you!

[Tall_Allen in reply to irakor]

Yes, it can certainly be caused by a change in labs. Also, take every reading even from the same lab as ±20%

[irakor in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thank you!

[Hidden]

Different lab, different assay.

Mine sometimes uses separate lab centers, I ask which methodology for comparison.

One method is: chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA)

Other is: Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay (ECLIA)

Ive have had CBC done days apart.

One was my monthly orders, (sent to lab) then I needed to go to emergency, and they took labs (ER in house).

More than 20% difference.

[cesces]

The absolute value isn't so important.

It is trending changes.

So you want to keep using the same test so you can compare results.

LabCorp is a good place to standardize on. My doc talked to them. They only have about 5 labs doing ultra sensitive and they make sure that they all produce the same assay results.

[irakor in reply to cesces]

Thank you, this is very important information for us about LabCorp as my husband's blood was sent to LabCorp for a recent Ultra Sensitive PSA test.

[jjpeabody]

I've had confusion and misrepresentations from Quest on whether they go out 3 decimal places. In fact when they recently said they would go out 3 places and only went out 2 they gave me a credit and I went to LabCorp. I no longer get involved with the semantics but explicitly request the number of decimal places, also when you get the test you want save the code they use to report procedure to insurance. Maybe some "Quests" do go out 3 places I don't know, going to stick with LabCorp while cancer is in the very low range and after recent SRT. Good luck

[j-o-h-n]

LabCorp + Quest -.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Sunday 06/18/2023 10:23 PM DST

[RMontana]

The ultra low (uPSA) measures to the thousands of ng/dL That would be to the level of 0.001 there May b uses for this level of accuracy here r some reasons;

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healthunlocked.com/active-s...

It will depend on what his readings are I measure my PSA via uPSA as I want to catch a recurrence trend early Rick