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Day to day changes in free and total PSA: significance of biological variation

Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases volume 1, pages 90–96 (1997)Cite this article

Abstract

In this study we evaluated the physiological variation of free and total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels to determine how the percent free/total PSA was affected. Twenty four patients had blood drawn for ten consecutive weekdays. The percent coefficient of variation (%CV) of biological variation was calculated. The results were log-normally distributed with geometric means of 12.0% CV, 7.3% CV, and 8.8% CV for free, total, and percent free/total PSA, respectively. When applied, the percent free/total, PSA would need to fluctuate by 31% to indicate that a significant change (critical difference, P<0.05) between two measurements had occurred. Biological variation of PSA measurements is substantial.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Washington School of Medicine, San Diego, California, USA

    RG Nixon

  2. Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington Medical Center, San Diego, California, USA

    MH Wener

  3. Hybritech Incorporated, University of Washington Medical Center, San Diego, California, USA

    KM Smith, RE Parson & AB Blase

  4. Department of Urology, University of Washington Medical Center and Seattle Veterans Administration Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, USA

    MK Brawer

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  1. RG Nixon
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  2. MH Wener
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  3. KM Smith
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  4. RE Parson
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  5. AB Blase
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  6. MK Brawer
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Nixon, R., Wener, M., Smith, K. et al. Day to day changes in free and total PSA: significance of biological variation. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 1, 90–96 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.pcan.4500212

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.pcan.4500212

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