Could the PSA have been lower?

User

Posted 08 Apr 2019 at 21:10

It’s been a couple of months since hubbys first PSA test post RP, the result was <0.05. What’s bothering me is could it have been lower? I’ve seen some people saying theirs was <0.01. I’m a bit confused as I’ve read about different labs giving different results.

Thanks for any help

User

Posted 08 Apr 2019 at 21:57

That sounds like a good result. I only get measurements to one decimal place so can’t comment further. Hopefully others will chip in.

The whole testing regime causes stress. I have my next test Friday.

Hope things are going well for you both.

Ian

Ido4

User

Posted 08 Apr 2019 at 22:07

Thanks for the reply Ido4. Yes both the nurse and the consultant said it was undetectable, but me being me I’m worrying if it could have been lower and if it could what that might mean. This whole process is never ending, my anxiety is building by the day. Wishing you lots of luck for your test on Friday. Let us know how it goes.

User

Posted 08 Apr 2019 at 22:57

Hi <0.05 could also be <0.01. What I mean is that if they are saying it is below 0.05 it means 0.05 is the lowest they test to. So it could be anything below that 👍

Bri

User

Posted 08 Apr 2019 at 23:21

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Thanks for any help

You can only go by his successive readings on THAT machine, at THAT lab, until it is recalibrated. In which case it may change a bit, and lead to a new series of very low readings.

Take great satisfaction from that very very low reading.

Enjoy

dave

All we can do - is do all that we can.

So, do all you can to help yourself, then make the best of your time. :-)

I am the statistic.

User

Posted 08 Apr 2019 at 23:43

No, it couldn’t have been lower. “<0.05” means that the reading is at or below the lower limit of detectibility of the machine.

Cheers,

Chris

User

Posted 09 Apr 2019 at 03:39

At my hospital they only test down to 0.1 so <0.1 is classed as ‘undetectable’. A surgeon and an oncologist told me testing to less than that is pointless because of ‘noise’, and another oncologist told me testing to lower than that is only useful in some circumstances.

Cheers, John.

User

Posted 09 Apr 2019 at 08:14

Stop worrying so long as you have the "less than" it is undetectable.

I think Nice should be making recommendations about PSA testing standards as the variation of standards across the UK must add costs and unecessary stress and misunderstanding!

User

Posted 09 Apr 2019 at 10:10

Thank you everyone for your reassuring replies. I need to get a grip of myself! Mr L is going along nicely, not even worrying about upcoming PSA tests, I should take a leaf out of his book.

Thanks again,

Michaela

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