Just curious: What do these PSA readings mean?

Your important number is .006. That is the lowest number that some of the machines can give you.

As far as the medical community is concerned, you are undetectable.

“PSA” and “PSA Free” are two different markers. (“PSA” is sometimes called “Total PSA”.)

PSA circulates in the blood in two forms – either attached to certain blood proteins or unattached (“free”). The ratio of Free PSA to PSA is called the “% Free PSA.”

If the PSA is between 4.0-10.0, but the % Free PSA is low (< 25%), it may indicate a higher risk of disease. (% Free PSA doesn’t mean much when PSA is far outside of the 4.0-10.0 range. That may be why it mentioned “not calculable.”)
===========

As for your PSA of 0.006 (which us very good, by the way) —> For it to be considered undetectable, it must be preceded by a “< “ (mathematical “less than”) symbol. A PSA of 0.00x isn’t undetectable (because there is no “< “ symbol).

To explain —> the term “undetectable” refers to the lower limitations of the laboratory test equipment being used.

For instance, “undetectable”
can be < 0.2, or < 0.02, or < 0.002, depending on the sensitivity of the test equipment being used. (In my case at two different test centers, CompuNet and the Cancer Center that I go to, undetectable is < 0.02 and < 0.008, respectively. Both were considered undetectable because both were preceded by the “< “ symbol.

If your PSA is below the detectable limit of the lab equipment that your doctor has chosen to use (i.e., PSA result has a “< “), that’s considered undetectable.

“PSA” and “PSA Free” are two different markers. (“PSA” is sometimes called “Total PSA”.)

PSA circulates in the blood in two forms – either attached to certain blood proteins or unattached (“free”). The ratio of Free PSA to PSA is called the “% Free PSA.”

If the PSA is between 4.0-10.0, but the % Free PSA is low (< 25%), it may indicate a higher risk of disease. (% Free PSA doesn’t mean much when PSA is far outside of the 4.0-10.0 range. That may be why it mentioned “not calculable.”)
===========

As for your PSA of 0.006 (which us very good, by the way) —> For it to be considered undetectable, it must be preceded by a “< “ (mathematical “less than”) symbol. A PSA of 0.00x isn’t undetectable (because there is no “< “ symbol).

To explain —> the term “undetectable” refers to the lower limitations of the laboratory test equipment being used.

For instance, “undetectable”
can be < 0.2, or < 0.02, or < 0.002, depending on the sensitivity of the test equipment being used. (In my case at two different test centers, CompuNet and the Cancer Center that I go to, undetectable is < 0.02 and < 0.008, respectively. Both were considered undetectable because both were preceded by the “< “ symbol.

If your PSA is below the detectable limit of the lab equipment that your doctor has chosen to use (i.e., PSA result has a “< “), that’s considered undetectable.

@brianjarvis

You are absolutely correct on all points. It is important to make the distinction between laboratory capabilities and clinical outcomes, as you did, but it deserves emphasis: anything less than .1 was historically "undetectable after prostatectomy. A number like .05 would be an excellent clinical outcome; .0006 is phenomenal - with or without a "< " sign.

Steve

“PSA” and “PSA Free” are two different markers. (“PSA” is sometimes called “Total PSA”.)

PSA circulates in the blood in two forms – either attached to certain blood proteins or unattached (“free”). The ratio of Free PSA to PSA is called the “% Free PSA.”

If the PSA is between 4.0-10.0, but the % Free PSA is low (< 25%), it may indicate a higher risk of disease. (% Free PSA doesn’t mean much when PSA is far outside of the 4.0-10.0 range. That may be why it mentioned “not calculable.”)
===========

As for your PSA of 0.006 (which us very good, by the way) —> For it to be considered undetectable, it must be preceded by a “< “ (mathematical “less than”) symbol. A PSA of 0.00x isn’t undetectable (because there is no “< “ symbol).

To explain —> the term “undetectable” refers to the lower limitations of the laboratory test equipment being used.

For instance, “undetectable”
can be < 0.2, or < 0.02, or < 0.002, depending on the sensitivity of the test equipment being used. (In my case at two different test centers, CompuNet and the Cancer Center that I go to, undetectable is < 0.02 and < 0.008, respectively. Both were considered undetectable because both were preceded by the “< “ symbol.

If your PSA is below the detectable limit of the lab equipment that your doctor has chosen to use (i.e., PSA result has a “< “), that’s considered undetectable.

The number you want to watch , among others, is your "PSA velocity" or how quick your PSA rises and falls . Keep a log book of every year you are tested . Are you seeing a Urologist (URO) ? Any other issues with prostate ? At PSA of 0.006 , thats usually the lowest reading possible or "undetectable " . Keep us informed , and get regular PSA checks . James

@brianjarvis
If someone’s PSA is .01 or less it doesn’t need a < sign. That is the exact PSA, there’s no need for them to say well It’s less than that if that is exactly what it is.

The < sign is really only significant if attached to < .1 Which the medical community considers undetectable. Anything less than that doesn’t require a less than sign To be considered undetectable, Because less than that is undetectable, according to medical literature.