Hi,
You've probably done some searching. Having done a bit myself it seems Abbott is an assay made by a company called Abbott. There is a comparison with 2 others although I think the nub of it is it's just one type which if you read the below adds to the point often raised that different labs have different results. It might be some help.
As a side following my note above, perhaps I should mention that my psa shot up when it first became detectable but has been stable for around 15 months. So forecasting gave a much worse situation and was a heads up for discussion but in reality wasn't anything like what happened. Back to the topic:
Ref https://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/35/6/3431
'Background/Aim: Lack of interchangeability between prostate-specific antigen (PSA) assays could have a clinical impact. We compared PSA assays from different manufacturers and calibrations. Patients and Methods: A total of 233 men who underwent prostate biopsy (PSA: 2-10 ng/ml; Beckman Coulter Access® Hybritech® as reference) were enrolled. Total (tPSA) and free PSA (fPSA) were also measured using the Roche cobas® and the Abbott Architect® methods. Results: Roche tPSA values were ≈1% higher than Beckman, while Abbott values were ≈5% lower. Roche had the highest diagnostic sensitivity (92%) compared to Beckman Coulter (87%) and Abbott (85%). Roche fPSA was ≈3% lower and Abbott ≈17% higher than that of Beckman. For the percentage of fPSA, Roche had the highest sensitivity (98%). Conclusion: Roche cobas® and Beckman Coulter Access® Hybritech® tPSA were almost interchangeable. While the agreement was acceptable for tPSA, this did not happen with fPSA and greater efforts for harmonization are required.'
I also found this using Bard AI tool.
On asking where it came from they said manufacturers data and journals but no links. Sometimes it gives poor conclusions that could be misleading if you don't know the subject or dig hard enough.
'Overview:
- Manufacturer: Abbott Laboratories
- Technology: Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay (CMIA)
- Instruments: Primarily used on the Abbott Architect platform
- Specificity: Measures total PSA, which includes both free PSA and PSA complexed to alpha-1-antichymotrypsin
- Purpose:
- Aid in prostate cancer detection (in conjunction with DRE) in men 50+
- Adjunctive test for managing prostate cancer patients
Key Features:
- Sensitivity: Can detect PSA levels as low as 0.003 ng/mL
- Linearity: Reliable results up to 100 ng/mL
- Reproducibility: Consistent results within and between assays
- Specificity: Minimizes interference from other substances
Testing Process:
- Blood Collection: A blood sample is drawn from the patient.
- Sample Preparation: Serum is separated from the blood cells.
- Assay: Serum is mixed with magnetic microparticles coated with anti-PSA antibodies and a chemiluminescent substrate.
- Binding: PSA in the sample binds to the antibodies on the microparticles.
- Washing: Unbound components are washed away.
- Signal Generation: A chemiluminescent reaction is triggered, producing light proportional to the amount of PSA bound.
- Measurement: The instrument measures the light intensity and calculates the PSA concentration.
Important Considerations:
- Results Interpretation:
- Normal PSA levels vary by age and ethnicity.
- Elevated PSA can suggest prostate cancer or other prostate conditions (e.g., prostatitis, BPH).
- Further testing (e.g., biopsy) is needed for diagnosis.
- Comparison with Other Methods:
- Abbott results may differ slightly from other manufacturers' assays due to variations in method and reagents.
- Values from different assays shouldn't be used interchangeably.
Additional Information:
- Abbott also offers a free PSA assay for evaluation of the ratio of free PSA to total PSA, which can help improve cancer detection accuracy.
- Abbott's PSA assays are FDA-approved for clinical use.
Always consult with a healthcare professional for accurate interpretation of PSA test results and guidance on appropriate next steps.'