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Test Code PHI11 Prostate Health Index Reflex, Serum


Specimen Required


Patient Preparation:

1. Specimens for testing should be collected prior to prostate manipulations such as digital rectal examination, prostatic massage, transrectal ultrasound, and prostatic biopsy.

2. A 6-week waiting period between needle biopsy and specimen collection is recommended.

3. Specimens should not be collected from patients receiving therapy with high biotin (vitamin B7) doses (ie, >5 mg/day) until at least 8 hours following the last biotin administration.

Supplies: Sarstedt Aliquot Tube 5 mL (T914)

Collection Container/Tube: Red top (serum gel/SST are not acceptable)

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions: Within 3 hours of collection, centrifuge, aliquot serum into a plastic vial, and refrigerate. Freeze sample within 24 hours of collection and send frozen.


Useful For

As an aid in distinguishing prostate cancer from benign prostatic conditions in men aged 50 years and older with total PSA between 4.0 and 10.0 ng/mL and digital rectal examination findings that are not suspicious for cancer

Reflex Tests

Test ID Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
PHI13 Prostate Health Index (phi) Reflex No No

Method Name

Immunoenzymatic Assay

Reporting Name

Prostate Health Index Reflex, S

Specimen Type

Serum Red

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.75 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Red Frozen (preferred) 150 days
  Ambient  24 hours
  Refrigerated  24 hours

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross icterus Reject

Clinical Information

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a glycoprotein produced by the prostate gland, the lining of the urethra, and the bulbourethral gland. Normally, very little PSA is secreted in the blood. In conditions of increased glandular size and tissue damage, PSA is released into circulation. Measurement of serum PSA is useful for determining the extent of prostate cancer and assessing the response to prostate cancer treatment. PSA is also used as a screening tool for prostate cancer detection, although its use in screening has become controversial in recent years. While an elevated serum PSA is associated with prostate cancer, a number of benign conditions, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis might lead to elevated serum PSA concentrations. As a consequence, PSA lacks specificity for prostate cancer detection.

 

Several PSA isoforms have been identified that can further increase the specificity of PSA for prostate cancer. In particular, the [-2] form of proPSA (p2PSA) shows improved performance over either total or free PSA for prostate cancer detection on biopsy. The prostate health index (phi) is a formula that combines all 3 PSA forms (total PSA, free PSA, and p2PSA) into a single score. phi is calculated using the following formula: (p2PSA/free PSA) x square root of PSA.

 

In a multicenter study that compared the performance of total PSA, free PSA, p2PSA, and phi in men undergoing prostate biopsy due to a serum PSA concentration between 4.0 and 10.0 ng/mL, phi was the best predictor of any prostate cancer, high-grade cancer, and clinically significant cancer. At 95% clinical sensitivity, the clinical specificity of phi was 16.0%, compared to 8.4% for free PSA and 6.5% for total PSA.

Reference Values

Females: Not applicable

 

PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN (PSA) MALES:

Age

Reference range

<40 years

≤2.0 ng/mL

40-49 years

≤2.5 ng/mL

50-59 years

≤3.5 ng/mL

60-69 years

≤4.5 ng/mL

70-79 years

≤6.5 ng/mL

≥80 years

≤7.2 ng/mL

 

PERCENT FREE PSA MALES:

When PSA is in the range of 4.0-10.0 ng/mL

% Free PSA

Probability of cancer

≤10%

56%

11-15%

28%

16-20%

20%

21-25%

16%

>25%

8%

 

PROSTATE HEALTH INDEX (phi) MALES:

When PSA is in the range of 4.0-10.0 ng/mL

phi range

Probability of cancer

95% Confidence interval

0-26.9

9.8%

5.2-15.4%

27.0-35.9

16.8%

11.3-22.2%

36.0-54.9

33.3%

26.8-39.9%

≥55.0

50.1%

39.8-61.0%

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Saturday

Report Available

1 to 3 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information

84153 - Total PSA

84154 - Free PSA (if appropriate)

86316 - [-2]ProPSA (if appropriate)

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send an Oncology Test Request (T729) with the specimen.