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Post-op PSA Result

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User
Posted 08 Sep 2025 at 18:07

Hello everyone. My husband, Andy, had a Retzius sparing RARP on 9.6.25 and has just received the result of his first post-op PSA test. It has come back as <0.03. I know this is a good result, but I have today read online that it isn't considered undetectable until it reaches 0.01 and I'm now a bit worried and don't know if I should be. 

User
Posted 08 Sep 2025 at 18:07

Hello everyone. My husband, Andy, had a Retzius sparing RARP on 9.6.25 and has just received the result of his first post-op PSA test. It has come back as <0.03. I know this is a good result, but I have today read online that it isn't considered undetectable until it reaches 0.01 and I'm now a bit worried and don't know if I should be. 

User
Posted 08 Sep 2025 at 18:44

DaveDob - thank you so much for your reply which has definitely put my mind at rest. 

Edited by member 08 Sep 2025 at 18:46  | Reason: Not specified

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User
Posted 08 Sep 2025 at 18:41

Do not worry. The only important bit is the < (less than) symbol. This means it is undetectable on the testing machine that they use. Some hospitals use different testing machines, so you may see other values quoted as undetectable, but in reality the < symbol is what is important.


Once you get below 0.1 the test machines have random errors so a lot of hospitals now consider <0.1 as undetectable.

Dave

User
Posted 08 Sep 2025 at 18:44

DaveDob - thank you so much for your reply which has definitely put my mind at rest. 

Edited by member 08 Sep 2025 at 18:46  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 09 Sep 2025 at 23:06

Zoogirl, good to hear things are going ok, if your tests are being done at city you will never get a 0.01 result, they only test down to 0.025, and I don't think all the machines are capable of testing down to that level. 


There is a support meeting on Thursday at the university. I Will attach the details, I think the speaker this week is talking about why the NHS is broken.


Thanks Chris 


https://nottinghamprostatecancersupportgroup.co.uk/


If you use what three words the entrance to the building is.


https://w3w.co/store.likely.robe


 

Edited by member 09 Sep 2025 at 23:15  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 10 Sep 2025 at 06:24

Hi Zoogirl.


It's a fantastic undetectable result for Andy. Long may they continue.👍


As Dave says its the < arrow that matters, it means it's the lowest that particular lab measures down to.


I've had post op PSA tests at two labs. One measures down to 0.04 and the other to 0.02. My reading from the first was <0.04, my readings from the second were all <0.02. All undetectable, and I'm now over two and a half years post-op.


Best of luck to you both.👍

Edited by member 10 Sep 2025 at 06:31  | Reason: Typo

User
Posted 10 Sep 2025 at 09:18

It's a good result. The sensitivity of these tests seem to vary depending who the provider is mine, only goes down to <0.04. 


Following my RP I was expecting my reading to be 0. If it wasn't for this forum I would not have realised '<' (less than) is the key component in the reading.

User
Posted 17 Sep 2025 at 16:26

fantastic news!


I've had 3 post RARP PSA tests, one privately and two through my GP. Both NHS ones were <0.016 which is their limit of detection and by contrast the posh private one was <0.03 as their detection limit is higher. Either way all 3 tests were greeted by a thumbs up emoji from my consultant so Andy and yourself can consider yourselves on a very encouraging path!

User
Posted 18 Sep 2025 at 06:37

Just to add to this discussion, Addenbrookes in Cambridge have for some years only tested down to 0.1 because of the reasons outlined by others. It apparently stops patients getting overly concerned if their result goes  from 0.02 to 0.03. 

 
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