I had the PSA blood draw yesterday and the next morning I had the results, which again surprised me. The post-prostatectomy PSA always took about 5 days to get the result, so I figured something was up. Well, when I looked at the report, I saw the nurse sent in the wrong order, which was the standard PSA blood work.
I have been getting Quest's post-prostatectomy PSA blood work. I was surprised to see that now it goes to 2 decimal places. For the past several years, my psa has been 0.05 ng/ml and this time with the standard PSA test it was 0.08 ng/ml. I know you can't compare the two, so I contacted the doctor and told him to send new orders to the lab for the post-prostatectomy PSA.
Hopefully, since it was a mistake on their part, they will pay for the stand PSA test.
The large medical system that I go to recently switched to Quest for routine lab testing. Instead of getting results the same day for routine tests at the larger clinics, testing is done overnight. Reports are a different format than before but not a big change and usually ready before one gets up. The doctors hate the change for patients that are actually sick but it is just the way medical systems are going.
Specialty testing takes longer but a PSA is typically next day reporting. The subject of variability in lab testing has been examined before and results will always vary which means nothing in itself unless it is due to to poor quality control.
Specialty testing takes longer but a PSA is typically next day reporting. The subject of variability in lab testing has been examined before and results will always vary which means nothing in itself unless it is due to to poor quality control.
To my knowledge, standard PSA reporting is to a single decimal place. Ultra sensitive test drills down to 2 or 3 decimal places. Post prostatectomy must be another way to denote ultra sensitive. What may be the reason for the descripancy you have noticed is the processing delay between blood draw and analysis. PSA has a half life of 2.5 to 3.5 days depending on volumetric concentration. The ball park usually taken is 3.5 days which simplifies decay calculation: 1/4 per week. If the lab that has a 5 days turn around time is not equipped for same day local proccessing and the blood sample rests in the vial for 1 or more days, it is reasonable to anticipate a lesser value compared to some other that processes within hours. FYI, I consistently have my blood drawn between 9 and 9:30 AM and results are uploaded in my web file not later than 5 PM same day. This is because the analyzer resides in the same building with the blood draw.
12/2018: Age 69, PSA=7.20, free/total=6.7%.
01/2019: mpMRI -> PIRADS 5, min ADC=4.6.
02/2019: TRUS biopsy-> 6 out of 20 cores positive, GS 4+4=8.
04/2019: PSA=7.66.
05/2019: RALP + frozen sections -> GS=4+5, unilateral SVI, pT3b, pN0 (0/20), R0 (clean margins).
06-12/2019: PSA=0.02.
02/2020 to 11/2021: PSA=0.03 to 0.17, PSADT~9.5 months.
11/2021 Adaptive Bicalutamide MED start
12/2018: Age 69, PSA=7.20, free/total=6.7%.
01/2019: mpMRI -> PIRADS 5, min ADC=4.6.
02/2019: TRUS biopsy-> 6 out of 20 cores positive, GS 4+4=8.
04/2019: PSA=7.66.
05/2019: RALP + frozen sections -> GS=4+5, unilateral SVI, pT3b, pN0 (0/20), R0 (clean margins).
06-12/2019: PSA=0.02.
02/2020 to 11/2021: PSA=0.03 to 0.17, PSADT~9.5 months.
11/2021 Adaptive Bicalutamide MED start
I was told that they spin the sample and then refrigerate the blood to keep it cold, and that it remains stable for up to 10 days for the ultrasensitive PSA test. A Quest courier picks up the cold sample and overnight it to Quest centralizes advanced immunoassay department at their national center in Irving, Texas arriving the next day. Quest's Irving facility is one of its primary national "esoteric" (highly specialized) reference laboratories, strategically situated right next to the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) airport corridor. The turnaround time for this test is generally 2 to 5 business days from the time your blood is drawn.
BTW, Lab Corp's processing for processing ultrasenstive PSA is located centralized national reference facility located in Burlington, North Carolina.They post that the typical turnaround time for results is 2 to 4 business days from the time of your blood draw (same as Quest Diagnostics).
BTW, Lab Corp's processing for processing ultrasenstive PSA is located centralized national reference facility located in Burlington, North Carolina.They post that the typical turnaround time for results is 2 to 4 business days from the time of your blood draw (same as Quest Diagnostics).
Post Edited (lapilot) : 6/18/2026 6:05:46 PM (GMT-4)
Quest here where I live (near Philadelphia) has been 2 decimal places for several years with a detectability limit of 0.04 for the regular psa test.
You could just start a new trendline starting with this test. this way you get the next day results, no fuss no muss. Probably cheaper too.
Is there a specific reason you want to delineate between a 0.05 on one test and a 0.08 using a different method? In both cases you are detectable at minute amounts.
Age 52 7/2019, PSA 5.5
Biopsy 4/12 positive, G8
RALP 10/2019 G9 (4+5). SVI- EPE+ Clean margins. 9 nodes clean.
3/20 IMRT 68 Gy (during Covid) 1/20--7/20 Lupron
PSA: 11/19: 0.10, 1/20:0.11, 8/20: <0.02, 1/21: <0.02, 4/21: 0.07, 7/21 0.18, 9/21 0.3, 11/21 0.48, 2/22 0.56, 5/22 0.74, 8/22 1.01, 11/22 1.36, 2/23 1.87
8/22 and 2/23 Psma Pet: met(s) in lung
4/23 lupron, xtandi psa<0.04
You could just start a new trendline starting with this test. this way you get the next day results, no fuss no muss. Probably cheaper too.
Is there a specific reason you want to delineate between a 0.05 on one test and a 0.08 using a different method? In both cases you are detectable at minute amounts.
Age 52 7/2019, PSA 5.5
Biopsy 4/12 positive, G8
RALP 10/2019 G9 (4+5). SVI- EPE+ Clean margins. 9 nodes clean.
3/20 IMRT 68 Gy (during Covid) 1/20--7/20 Lupron
PSA: 11/19: 0.10, 1/20:0.11, 8/20: <0.02, 1/21: <0.02, 4/21: 0.07, 7/21 0.18, 9/21 0.3, 11/21 0.48, 2/22 0.56, 5/22 0.74, 8/22 1.01, 11/22 1.36, 2/23 1.87
8/22 and 2/23 Psma Pet: met(s) in lung
4/23 lupron, xtandi psa<0.04
Post Edited (Stephen S) : 6/19/2026 5:31:45 PM (GMT-4)
I have had PSA done at PCP and Uro and results have always been stated as X.XX and < 0.10. Uro still provides that way and have not had done by PCP since they moved to Quest last year.
The fact that my wife and I are in different health systems and the acceptable ranges for various standard blood tests vary, I suspect that arbitrary limits of testing can be adjusted by the medical systems. I find it hard to believe that stating <0.10 could not resolve 0.09 if so inclined.
7/2018 (66yr), PSA 4.1->5.1
8/2018-MRI PI-RADS 5, MRI guided biopsy, 8/14 cores, G7(4+3)
9/2018-CT/Bone scans clear
11/6/18-RALP Surgery
11/2018-Post-Op Path G7(4+3) Tert Gr5, pT3a pN0, Grp 3, SM, EPE, <3mm
11/2018-Decipher 0.47, Ave Risk
1/2019-Epstein-G9(4+5) Grp 5, pT2x, margin vs. incision not clear
4-6/2019 ART 37 sessions
PSA<0.10: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
The fact that my wife and I are in different health systems and the acceptable ranges for various standard blood tests vary, I suspect that arbitrary limits of testing can be adjusted by the medical systems. I find it hard to believe that stating <0.10 could not resolve 0.09 if so inclined.
7/2018 (66yr), PSA 4.1->5.1
8/2018-MRI PI-RADS 5, MRI guided biopsy, 8/14 cores, G7(4+3)
9/2018-CT/Bone scans clear
11/6/18-RALP Surgery
11/2018-Post-Op Path G7(4+3) Tert Gr5, pT3a pN0, Grp 3, SM, EPE, <3mm
11/2018-Decipher 0.47, Ave Risk
1/2019-Epstein-G9(4+5) Grp 5, pT2x, margin vs. incision not clear
4-6/2019 ART 37 sessions
PSA<0.10: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Prior to my RP ten years ago I settled on <0.010 as best indicator, only using labs that report to this level. Typically, I receive results on self-directed tests the following day. When ordered by doc with other blood work results can take days; IMHO prioritization of profit and through put management.
As side-note I successfully use different labs as I travel and always experience consistency.
As side-note I successfully use different labs as I travel and always experience consistency.
Well, I did a follow up Quest lab Post Prostatectomy PSA and it came up to 0.06 ng/ml while their standard PSA (total) was 0.08 ng/ml. Makes me happier, but it did increase from 0.05 to 0.06. Bottom line, as everyone knows, you can't compare PSA values done by different labs or methods.
My experiences with nearly 100 uPSA tests over past ten years in different labs across multiple States and other countries, always reliable - most certainly for trend analysis. Also, I rely on <0.010 post RP as best indicator, dismiss the variable term 'undetectable'. Values above 0.030 trigger comparative imaging and ctDNA testing. Yes ahead of common practices but has served me well.
Benign biopsy at 47-PSA 20.4. Metastatic at 57-PSA 10.1. RP in 2016 followed by SRT to bed. 2018 advanced imaging and SePLND in Europe. Since June 2021 uPSA holding 0.03X, still no ADT. DX'ed metastatic melanoma Sep 2024. Have learned twice to not give cancer time and obscurity. Maintaining excellent health and fitness. Grateful! Murray Keith Wadsworth, author, podcaster: sheeporwolfcancer.com
Benign biopsy at 47-PSA 20.4. Metastatic at 57-PSA 10.1. RP in 2016 followed by SRT to bed. 2018 advanced imaging and SePLND in Europe. Since June 2021 uPSA holding 0.03X, still no ADT. DX'ed metastatic melanoma Sep 2024. Have learned twice to not give cancer time and obscurity. Maintaining excellent health and fitness. Grateful! Murray Keith Wadsworth, author, podcaster: sheeporwolfcancer.com
Post Edited (NanoMRI) : 6/28/2026 7:41:31 PM (GMT-4)
My oncology urologist has said that ultrasensitive PSA is a waste, sine a standard PSA is valid at 0.2 and above and that is his trigger point to do a PMSA and further diagnostics including a MRI. I had to disagree with him because the uPSA provides me the trend of what is going on. By the way, if he wants to do a PMSA at 0.2 I will tell him I will wait until it gets higher, maybe 0.4 or 0.5 because the sensitivity and specificity is better at the higher PSA.
Agree on ultrasensitive. As I came to learn waiting does not improve sensitivity but rather same sensitivity with greater cancer volume to detect some of. Before PSMA became available in US I learned in Europe, they were ahead of us, post RP imaging begins at 0.03. At 0.093 my PSMA was clear whilst Ferrotran nanoparticle MRI lit up multiple pelvic lymph nodes. Had I waited my treatment outcome would not gave been so successful. All the best to all of us navigating the disparities we face.
Benign biopsy at 47-PSA 20.4. Metastatic at 57-PSA 10.1. RP in 2016 followed by SRT to bed. 2018 advanced imaging and SePLND in Europe. Since June 2021 uPSA holding 0.03X, still no ADT. DX'ed metastatic melanoma Sep 2024. Have learned twice to not give cancer time and obscurity. Maintaining excellent health and fitness. Grateful! Murray Keith Wadsworth, author, podcaster: sheeporwolfcancer.com
Benign biopsy at 47-PSA 20.4. Metastatic at 57-PSA 10.1. RP in 2016 followed by SRT to bed. 2018 advanced imaging and SePLND in Europe. Since June 2021 uPSA holding 0.03X, still no ADT. DX'ed metastatic melanoma Sep 2024. Have learned twice to not give cancer time and obscurity. Maintaining excellent health and fitness. Grateful! Murray Keith Wadsworth, author, podcaster: sheeporwolfcancer.com
Post Edited (NanoMRI) : 7/1/2026 5:34:44 PM (GMT-4)
As a side note on Labcorp ultrasensitive PSA lab testing locations….Burlington NC is not the only location that does the uPSA testing for Labcorp. There are many other locations, including Houston, where mine gets sent.
Post Edited (Hosed66) : 7/8/2026 7:26:43 AM (GMT-4)