Men with PSAs between 4 and 10 ng ml range were the target audience for the test. According to research, phi is a more reliable indicator than PSA alone at identifying those who would benefit from a prostate biopsy and those with elevated PSA is most likely the result of a benign ailment, including a normal prostate growth or an infection in the prostate.
In this blog article, we will discuss more about what is a normal prostate health index score.
What Is A Normal Prostate Health Index Score for 50 years and older?
The Prostate Health Index (PHI) is a blood test used to assess the probability of prostate cancer in men. It combines the test results of three prostate-specific biomarkers: total PSA (prostate-specific antigen), free PSA, and [-2] pro PSA.
For men aged 50 and older, a PHI score typically falls within the range of 0 to 55. However, it’s essential to note that what’s considered “normal” can vary depending on several factors, including the specific laboratory’s reference range and the individual’s medical history.
A PHI score below 25 is generally considered low risk, while scores above 55 are typically associated with a higher risk of prostate cancer. However, interpretation should always be done in consultation with a healthcare professional who can take into account the individual’s overall health and other risk factors.
The Prostate Health
The four tests that comprise the components of the PHI score are explained in this section. A description of these tests and their meanings may be found below.
- PSA
Prostate cells generate a protein known as PSA or prostate-specific antigen. In this instance, PSA stands for Total PSA, which includes both PSA detected in the blood on its own and PSA attached to other proteins. PSA Free is the term for the PSA that may be discovered independently
- % Free PSA
This represents the division of PSA Free by PSA bound to other proteins, along with the approximate percentage that this makes up.
- p2PSA
This test gauges the concentration of -2 pro-PSA in the blood, a unique form of free-floating (unbound to other proteins) PSA that, according to research, is more prevalent in cases of cancer than total PSA, which can also be elevated in benign conditions like an enlarged prostate or a prostate infection.
- PHI
The Prostate Health Index, or phi, is a unique computation that is a score between the PSA, PSA Free, and p2PSA markers mentioned above. You may use this formula to find out how likely it is that you have prostate cancer and if you need to have a biopsy or other testing done.
What Do My Phi Results Mean?
Men with PSAs between 4 and 10 ng/ml were the target audience for the test. According to research, phi is a more reliable indicator than PSA alone at identifying those who would benefit from a prostate biopsy and those whose increased PSA is most likely the result of a benign ailment, including a normal prostate growth or an infection in the prostate.
When Is It Indicated?
In males, when the Total PSA result is highest, phi is probably most helpful. is somewhat higher (2–10 µg/L). Calculating the risk of cancer in this range might be challenging, as up to 25% of newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer individuals with a PSA that is comparatively normal (< 4 µg/L); nonetheless, Men with a PSA score of more than 4 µg/L, on the other hand, have a benign outcome of a biopsy. This ambiguity makes a prostate biopsy necessary. typically taken into account to elucidate the diagnosis.
PHI Advantages
- PHI can help medical professionals and patients decide what implementing a prostate biopsy procedure.
- PHI is not significantly impacted by an individual’s age.
It is anticipated that this test will help lower the quantity of unnecessary biopsies in individuals with a slightly high total PSA outcome (2–10 µg/L). The function of phi in other therapeutic contexts, such as the monitoring of radical prostatectomy is not determined yet.
What is Beckman Coulter?
Beckman Coulter phi (Prostate Health Index) is a specific version of the PHI test developed and marketed by Beckman Coulter, a leading provider of diagnostic testing solutions. The Beckman Coulter PHI test measures three specific biomarkers associated with prostate health: total PSA (prostate-specific antigen), free PSA, and [-2]proPSA. These biomarkers are analyzed together to generate a PHI score, which helps in assessing the probability of prostate cancer in men.
The Beckman Coulter PHI test is used as an aid in distinguishing prostate cancer from benign prostatic conditions in men aged 50 years and older with total PSA levels between 4.0 and 10.0 ng/mL and negative digital rectal examination findings. It provides additional information beyond what traditional PSA testing alone can offer, helping to improve the specificity and accuracy of prostate cancer detection.
Advances in Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
The identification of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the 1970s may have contributed to advancements in the detection of prostate cancer. PSA was first licensed by the FDA in the 1980s for the purpose of monitoring men who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Later, it was authorized for the purpose of detecting prostate cancer and was made available as a screening tool for the disease. Because PSA was used so widely, this resulted in a sharp rise in the incidence rates of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer mortality has generally decreased as a result of early diagnosis. Prostate cancer mortality is around 45% lower now than it was in 1992.
In summary, phi is a blood test used to determine the risk of prostate cancer. Currently, it is recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines for Prostate Cancer Early Detection and FDA approved as a method to further increase the likelihood that men with increased PSAs will have cancer upon biopsy. When used for the appropriate demographic, phi may prevent around 30% of pointless biopsies. Before doing a prostate biopsy, men with a total PSA of 4–10 ng/mL should consider phi. Lastly, phi has been shown in several trials to have a higher diagnosis accuracy than both total PSA and %-free PSA.
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*This information is not intended to serve as a substitute for professional medical or dietary advice tailored to individual needs.
Dr. Kimberly Langdon has been an MD for 31 years, board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist with 19-years of clinical experience. She graduated from The Ohio State University College of Medicine, earning Honors in many rotations. She then completed her OB/GYN residency program at The Ohio State University Medical Center, earning first-place accolades for her Senior Research Project and Score of 98th percentile on a National Proficiency Test.
During her clinical career, she delivered over 2000 babies and specialized in minimally invasive procedures, menopause, endometriosis, menstrual disorders, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. After retiring from clinical practice, she founded a medical device company to commercialize her two patented and four patent-pending medical devices for both life-threatening and non-life-threatening infections.
