AboutSamantha, MLT (ASCP) Expertise I can answer most general questions about all aspects of laboratory testing. But I'm not a doctor! I can just give general answers.
Experience I have been the chemistry supervisor at the hopsital where I work for 11 years. I am an MLT (ASCP)which means I am board certified.
Education/Credentials Associate's Degree, Medical Lab Technician, 1997.
Question Have you ever heard of a PSA result of 1,815?
My Dad (age 69) has been fighting prostate cancer for almost 5
years, with clinical studies of chemo, regular chemo,
radiation, hormones, etc. etc. Each month his symptoms
get worse and worse...we finally convinced him to see
his original doctor (an urologist) last week.
Supposedly, the results were 1,815 (the lab tested twice).
I have a hard time believing this number is real, maybe
Dad is confused and it's really 18.15? What do you think?
Answer Hi Jan, I'd be happy to try and answer your question. A PSA result of 1815 sound very very high, and I personally, in my 11 years of lab testing, have never seen a result that high. PSA can be elevated because of some chemo drugs, but I don't think they would elevate it that much. In the lab where I work, the machine that does our PSA tests, is one of the latest, high-tech machines. And it does not even read a result that high. I think it only reads to 300 or something like that. Now we could dilute the specimen to get a bigger number, but our protocol is just to report out greater than 300. Because giving an actual result, when it's that high (>300) is considered "clinically insignificant", meaning that if the doctor knows a result is that high, he knows there is a problem. Now 18.15 makes more sense to me. It's still high, the normal range for PSA is around 0.0 - 4.0. Maybe you should clarify with the doctor again. And make sure the results they're giving are in ng/ml, any other unit may be the reason the result is wacky. I hope I've answered your question. Take care and good luck with your dad.
