STRIP TEST FOR THE QUICK DETECTION OF INCREASED CONCENTRATIONS OF PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN IN BLOOD

We tested the performance of the new immunochemical membrane test BioS ign PSA for detecting serum concentrations of prostate-specific antige n > 4 mu g/l. Measurements were simultaneously performed on 161 serum samples, using the strip test and three quantitative assays of prostat e specific antigen (Tandem-E, Imx, LIA-mat). Based on the upper refere nce limit of 4 mu g/l, 11-37% of the results obtained with the BioSign test were false-negative and 4-15% were false-positive, compared with the data of the three quantitative assays. It is concluded that the B ioSign test in its present form does not satisfactorily differentiate between prostate-specific antigen concentrations above and below 4 mu g/l, but an improved version of the test would be useful.