PSA now sent to LabCorp and other minor irritants

Yesterday, I went to get my PSA test done at the same place that has done them for the last 5 1/2 years. This is the same place that gave me a big scare a year or two back when my PSA suddenly tripled in 3 months from .02 to .06. I found out 3 months later, when I had no further increase, or maybe even went down a tiny bit, that the big jump coincided with new machines that also had a higher so called undetectable, from what used to be <.01 to now <.05.

Any way, they are always real good about quickly getting the report- same day- to the hospital portal web site, and/or e-mailing me that the results were ready. But yesterday I had to redo all of my medical info, since they have gone to a brand new system and it was like I was a new patient. Then I don't hear anything from them, so I called this morning. Turns out they don't do their own labs anymore, they are sending them all out to LabCorp. Who knows when the results will be back.

But what is more concerning: when I had my big jump, did I actually have some fast PC growth which proceeded to stop growing for the next year+, or was it simply that machines can vary by that much - one reading .02 another calling the same sample .06?(they told me other folks also had some increases after the change) I have to conclude that the machines are likely to be part of that change, which might not be a real change. Both machines can not be right, though I suppose both can be wrong. But I have settled into the reality of the new machines as I watch for any trend, and now I am going to totally different machines. How am I supposed to accurately compare that to the machines that my doc has been using? In addition, I have seen threads on here with people using LabCorp vs some one else, with one being considered better, but both differing quite a lot, can't remember which. If this is all I have to complain about, I guess I should be happy.

Oh well, it is what it is, nothing I can do about it. Is LabCorp considered the "bad" one or the "good' one?

I see the utility of the sensitive PSA test to detect early trends, but I have also seen the anxiety for events that didn’t end up meaning anything.

BB, I hear your frustration when getting your results is delayed. A smooth running patient portal has been a huge stress reducer for me. I want my information as soon as it is available, and not have to wait for an appointment to be informed. Every patient deserves that.

I have two nearby Lab Corps, and one doc who uses them for his labs. All three go to different testing facilities with different equipment. That was not reassuring. My GP switches back and forth between Lab Corp and Quest, as they rebid each year for services. Sometimes one stays for more than a year.

My current PSA tests are all done in house at my oncology center. I have never bothered to ask about the equipment used, but I have actually seen it. They are very concerned about consistency, as we are making some big decisions on these numbers.

My results never show on the portal until the doc reviews them, which can be days later, so there is a certain frustration. But I can call and get them read off by the nurse.