Diagnostic Use
Diagnosis and monitoring of prostatic carcinoma.
Some men with prostate carcinoma have normal PSA results.
Approx 8% of patients with non-malignant prostate disease have serum PSA levels of 4-10 µg/L. These conditions include Prostatitis, Urethritis and Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH). Less than 1% of patients with non-malignant prostate disease have PSA levels greater than 10 µg/L.
The test is not recommended as a stand-alone screening test for carcinoma of the prostate.
PSA testing is not recommended for asymptomatic men >75 years old, or where life expectancy is <10 years.
Free PSA testing is available at LabPLUS. However, it will ONLY be approved when requested by a urologist, or with prior approval of a urologist or chemical pathologist documented on the request form. All other requests will be rejected. Free PSA will NOT be approved if the total PSA is <2 ug/L or >10 ug/L.
Test Method
Principle: Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay - Sandwich
Analyser: Roche Diagnostics Cobas e801
Reagents: Elecsys totalPSA
Limitations / Interference
Isolated serum PSA levels are not recommended as a screening test for prostatic carcinoma.
Uncertainty of Measurement
10% at 0.1 ug/L and 7.5% greater than or equal to 4 ug/L