PSA test spark worry at fast home

Wonderful about prostate cancer can give home tests inconsistent and incorrect results, BBC News has found.

The test, which is found by a covid lateral flow strip, becomes positive if high levels of protein called PSA are found in a drop of blood.

One of the five fast tests analyzed by the BBC, one did not work, three were negative or all – but one returned a wrong positive result – all from the same blood sample.

Prostate Cancer UK stated that it was significant concern about the sale of tests of a doctor to explain their “suspected accuracy” and results.

Unlike breast, bowel and cervical cancer, there is no national prostate cancer screening program in the UK.

Instead, on Onas men have to request blood tests from your GP Once they are over 50 years oldOr 45 for high -risk groups.

That NHS test, which is processed in a laboratory, measures the level of the PSA released by the prostate, a small gland involved in the production of semen.

A high PSA level does not mean that you have cancer, but a warning signal that can then scan and test further to rule from the disease.

PSA levels can be high for many other reasons – including infection, recent vigorous exercise or sex – or in some rare cases remain normal despite cancer.

Google Search Data suggests that interest in testing has increased rapidly since the Olympic cyclist. Sir Chris Hoy became public with his diagnosis In October 2024.

Dozens of companies now sell self-testing kits designed to measure PSA levels.

They are available online and with prices from £ 6 to £ 95 from some pharmacies and convenience stores.

They come in two main types:

• Testing
• Rapid tests that give results in minutes and display a dark line if PSA is found above a certain level

The BBC analyzed five fast trials purchased online from various companies, using blood samples taken on the same day.

UK Medicine Regulator, MHRA, in his guidance states that over-the-counter PSA kit “is not a reliable indicator of prostate cancer” and “not claim to detect cancer”.

Instead, tests at home are often marketed as a way of “screen” or “assessing the risk of prostate cancer” for the disease, the language regulator says that the current rules will be allowed under the current rules.

One of the home tests ordered by the BBC came into a packaging and was clearly marked with the instructions “for professional use”.

For anyone with no medical experience, the kit can be difficult to use.

A disposable lensate should pierce the skin, before the blood drops are sucked into a pipette, mixed with a chemical and kept in the test cassette.

Of the five kits analyzed by the BBC, one did not produce a readable result; Three returned; But one showed a solid dark line, indicating a PSA level above 4.0 ugly/L.

A private blood test was taken on the same day and shown very little reading of 0.27 ugly/L sent to a laboratory.

“As your experience suggests, these rapid tests show suspicious accuracy in prostate cancer UK.”

“This is a major problem because they can convince those who have really a PSA level high and they should seek further tests, or they can create unfair concern among those who are absolutely fine.”

Online reviews see that out.

In one, a customer posted that he was “actually scared” after two fast house tests, indicating a high PSA level. The NHS test later revealed that his reading was normal.

In another one-star review, a woman wrote that her husband conducted two domestic tests for the “Peace of Mind” and both were negative. An NHS blood test then showed a high level of PSA and revealed step four prostate cancer.

The British in Vitro Diagnostics Association, which represents the blood test industry, says that while the tests of the house are suitable under many circumstances, “This special type of (PSA) test cannot give an accurate signal of prostate health when taken out of NHS”.

Instead it says that the men concerned may have cancer that they should see their GP.

In NHS, doctors often use PSA tests as part of a comprehensive consultation about prostate health, which bring in other risk factors such as age, ethnicity and family history.

A GP and prostate cancer researcher at Manchester University, Dr. Sam Merial says that a full NHS laboratory test can give far more detailed images than a cheap home kit that is either positive or negative.

“The actual PSA reading is actually important to understand because, as a GP, if I saw a PSA of 4.0, I am behaving very differently with the 400 PSA,” they say.

“You just do not get the level of information from a fast home test, so patients cannot get a complete picture.”

Prostate cancer UK has described the development of home testing as “symptoms of a comprehensive problem”.

“Many men still do not realize that they can use tests through GP and guidelines for doctors are dangerous old.”

Sir Chris Hoy is calling to reduce the age at which high -risk people, such as black men or family history, can ask their GP for PSA testing.

The government says the current guidelines should not stop doctors from offering tests under 50 years of age, but critics say the rules are not clear and there are huge changes in the diagnosis rates between GP surgery.

Prostate cancer UK is also calling for a change to allow Medics to talk to high -risk patients about the professionals and oppositions of the test rather than waiting to come forward.

A spokesperson of the Health Department says that it has asked the UK National Screening Committee, which advises NHS, to review the evidence on the test with the expected response later this year.

He said, “Prostate cancer patients are waiting for a very long time for diagnosis and treatment, but through our National Cancer Scheme we will change the method of treating cancer.”