My first PSA after HT reporting confusion

[SimMartin]

I’ve just finish 19 months of Zoladex and RT to prostate only (localised G9 / PSMA/CT clear no evidence of SV involvement with PSA 6)

My usual lab have been reporting my PSA as <0.01 ug/L since RT 18 months ago. My first 3 month testosterone is 0.8 nmol/L (23 ng/dL) and my PSA <0.03 !

Why is it now with the same lab reporting <0.03 when all previous reports <0.01 ? I am somewhat perplexed and anxious this is a rise so early on with only a very small increase to 0.08 in testosterone which has been reported as <0.5. Is it now between 0.02 and 0.03 or no different just different report threshold or test sensitivity?

I can’t get any info from the lab so just wondering what are others’ views or experience- And what should I do, if anything, as doctors just say it is fine and still undetectable, so no action or concern needed. No action before PSA is 2 above nadir or rapid rising over a few months. Which seems a little unwise.

[Justfor_]

As long as there are two less than signs (<) you are comparing "unknown value A" to "unknown value B". Same lab doesn't guarantee same analyzer. They may have shut down one test line, cause of vacation month, and used an older analyzer they may have. Or, due to personnel leaves they may send the blood samples elsewhere.

[Tall_Allen]

"Why is it now with the same lab reporting <0.03 when all previous reports <0.01 ? I am somewhat perplexed and anxious this is a rise so early on..." It's not a rise. It just means the lab changed its PSA test kit. As long as you see the "less than symbol (<)" it means your actual value is below what they can report on their test kit.

[babychi]

Similar diagnosis, treatment, PSA test results here so we are getting on with living. Get tested regularly and maybe investigate how exercise, food and alcohol intake affect outcomes, if you have not already done so. 🌻