Private PSA test

Your IT systems appear pretty good, the people sitting as gatekeepers less so.

I once attempted to get a test sneaked in via my GP as part of a health test. They agreed on condition I was with a Urologist.  Anyway it came back as 0.08 which was a shock as I'd been undetectable.  Fortunately my CNS agreed I could have my next test early. It came back undetectable.  My GP uses the local hospital but my blood test and operation was elsewhere, providing support to the belief you should use the same lab.  Unfortunately 9 months later at my next test it was 0,06 or detectable on the 5th anniversary from the op.  I was on annual testing but the discharge test is 5yrs after the op. I could write another paragraph about the pros and cons of that result and the testing threshold.

I'd previously considered getting a private test down to 0.01 as my hospital does 0.05.  My thinking was to find a hospital that tested that low then find a private urologist at a private hospital that used that lab.  I didn't do it as it was always when getting near the test that this idea emerged but as soon as the sample is taken I feel more relaxed, que sera, sera.

Edited by member 26 Sep 2023 at 21:08  | Reason: Not specified

I’m in Scotland so goodness knows WHAT system we use…but I’m going to ask. It kind of annoys me, I go into the surgery to ask for my results, the receptionist tells me they have them but can’t tell me because the GP hasn’t reviewed them🤷🏼‍♂️ Do they NOT understand how stressful it is waiting on the results?

and then to cap it all when they DO decide to tell you they say ‘Normal’…well what use is THAT to us? So you have to ask ‘What is the actual reading?’😡

I don't have any problem with my GP surgery for tests, but I do always phone at least two weeks before I need the test as the nurse who takes blood only does three or four mornings a week. The surgery know I have had treatment and this is part of the ongoing monitoring. I think you have more of a problem if they think you want a screening test, as this is very low priority at most GPs and almost discouraged.

Hospital Blood Test

No appointment required however I have to have the urology team create a record that I am due a test.

GP Blood Test

Have to make an appointment with GP. Still have to have urology team make the request for a blood test. Which the nurse at my practice can never find - the NHS is not joined up. But since she knows I am being regularly tested does the test anyway.

I use the NHS app to get my results. Receptionists are not medically trained and getting the result out of them can be tricky.

You didn't say what region you're in for recommending private blood tests.  Your note has brought out how many different procedures there are.  I was aware that some have immediate on line access to results whereas I was told it needs a certain IT system.  GP systems often don't show the < sign so you aren't told it's less than, perhaps yours does. Regards Peter

Pin-prick tests are not really reliable. Generally tests carried out via the NHS can vary depending on the labs used; generally they are accurate up to two decimal places eg 0.06 and they don't seem to use the < (less than sign). Because I had my surgery privately my test results are accurate up to three decimal places, are typically < 0.003 (super sensitive test) compared with my GP (NHS) recommended test results which vary, typically 0.04, 0.06, 0.07.

Which is why it is best to go to the doctors and get a blood extraction PSA test with a needle. Though, as you know, a high, or low for that matter, PSA score is not a given that you do or do not have prostate cancer.

Ivan

Hi Eric,

I'm on Patient Knows Best, for hospital records and appointments and there is at least a months delay for results.

But my GP is on Systemonline which enables me to get PSA results within 24 hours. 

I'm a firm believer that you should get your PSA results ASAP. I certainly wouldn't want to wait a month for them.

Only 2 months after my prosectomy I had a heart attack and was in a hospital ward awaiting an op. During my stay there, my urologist contacted me for a PSA test. I asked one of the nurses on the ward if she could do a blood test for me. She took a blood sample at 10pm and gave me the results at 6am the following morning. Now that's what I call service. 😀