Confused about PSA numbers and how they are written.

Hi guys.

I had a PSA test done by a outside lab (LabCorp) Monday 7-24-13 and received the results this morning.
The nurse called me and said the PSA was less than zero point one. <0.1

My surgeon at MUSC uses their lab and the lab says my PSA is less than point zero nine <.09 on the written report, this was done on 7-17-13, but during my appointment, the surgeon said it was .009

Are these still considered zero? Is there a significant difference between the three PSA scores?

I know I shouldn't be worrying, but I think I'll just stop going to any doctors. :-\

James,

The first two are read as "undetectable" as produced by labs that use different cutoffs for detectability and the third one is an actual reading and a damm good one at three months. There is nothing whatsoever there to worry about except that you mistyped one of your dates since July 17th has not yet arrived.

Congratulations you got a whole bucket full of zeros there.

It's just a difference in the kind of testing done at the lab and how sensitive the test equipment is.

and yes, I sometimes think it's seeing doctors that is making me sick. ;)

Andrew

I agree, but the >009 is the best, meaning ,<0.01. Being a guy of detail I would want to know if it is, > 0.10 or <than 0.01. I would also scold them for the inefficiency, but thats my own bad self. minor vent alert. An airplane engine just blew up while taxing for departure. Sloppy maintenance, uro's staff/lab cant interpret there own tests, cats and dogs living together…. Oh we got troubles, right here in River City…...