How accurate is the PCA3 test?
PCA3 status correctly predicted positive biopsies 62% of the time with a sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 37%. When combining MRI and PCA3 tests, specificity increased to 60% and sensitivity decreased to 66%, with 64% accuracy.
What is a normal PCA3 score?
How to understand your results
| PCA3 score | Risk of prostate cancer |
|---|---|
| Less than 35 | The risk is low risk. Your doctor is unlikely to recommend biopsy. |
| 35 or higher | You have increased risk of prostate cancer. Your doctor will likely recommend a biopsy. |
How are PCA3 scores calculated?
San Diego, CA USA); PCA3 score was calculated using the following equation: (PCA3 mRNA/PSA mRNA) x 1000 (13).
Does Medicare cover PCA3 test?
PCA3 testing is covered ONLY when all biopsies in previous encounter(s) are negative and when the patient or physician wants to avoid repeat biopsy (watchful waiting). When the physician plans to biopsy the prostate, MolDX will consider a PCA3 test as investigational and thus, not a covered Medicare benefit.
Are prostate biopsies accurate?
The authors concluded that 9.9% of all the cancers, most of which were clinically significant, were not diagnosed, even though 20-core biopsies were taken. In this study, the false negative rate of 12-core prostate biopsy technique was found to be more than 30%.
What is the PCA3 test?
The prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3) test detects genetic material (messenger RNA (mRNA)) that is produced only by the prostate. The protein PCA3 and its associated mRNA are present at low levels in normal prostate tissue. PCA3 is present in increased amounts (over-expressed) in about 90% of prostate cancers.
How accurate is a negative prostate biopsy?
A TRUS prostate biopsy samples less than 1 percent of the prostate, and the false-negative rate can approach 35 percent, meaning it shows no cancer even though cancer is present.
How does the PCA3 test detect prostate cancer?
The prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3) test detects genetic material (messenger RNA (mRNA)) that is produced only by the prostate. The protein PCA3 and its associated mRNA are present at low levels in normal prostate tissue. PCA3 is present in increased amounts (over-expressed) in about 90% of prostate cancers.
Can a PCA3 test be used as a substitute for PSA?
The PCA3 test is not a substitute for PSA testing, however. PCA3 testing is used along with PSA tests and others. It’s not currently being used for prostate cancer surveillance among the general population. Currently, PSA remains the preferred test for monitoring prostate cancer.
How is PCA3 mRNA and PSA mRNA measured?
This test measures PCA3 mRNA and PSA mRNA in the first urine sample collected following a digital rectal exam (DRE). Laboratories report a score based on the ratio of PCA3 mRNA to PSA mRNA called the PCA3 score. Prostate cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells in the prostate, a small gland that encircles the urethra in men.
When do you need a PCA3 blood test?
Not everyone will have a PCA3 test, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved its use in certain cases. For example, a doctor may use it to help decide whether or not to recommend repeat biopsies for males aged over 50 or who have had a previous negative biopsy.