PRODUCT
Prostate Health Index (PHI)
What is the Prostate Health Index (PHI)?
The Prostate Health Index (PHI) is a blood test that combines the following three markers to assess a man's risk of prostate cancer:
- Total PSA (PSA): The traditional PSA test, measuring the total amount of PSA in the blood.
- Free PSA (fPSA): Measures the amount of PSA in the blood that is not bound to proteins.
- pPSA ([-2]proPSA): A PSA precursor found at higher levels in prostate cancer tissue.
PHI uses a specific mathematical formula to combine these three values into a comprehensive "risk score" that more accurately reflects a man's risk of prostate cancer.
PHI Formula
Indications for PHI
PHI is intended for use in men 50 years of age or older with a total PSA between 2.0 and 10.0 ng/mL and a non-suspicious digital rectal exam (DRE), to aid in distinguishing prostate cancer from benign prostate conditions.
Advantages of PHI
Compared to the traditional PSA test, PHI offers the following advantages:
- Higher accuracy: PHI more accurately differentiates prostate cancer from benign prostate disease, helping physicians determine whether a biopsy is needed.
- Improved early detection: PHI is more sensitive in detecting early-stage prostate cancer, enabling earlier diagnosis and treatment.
- Reduced false-positive rate: PHI lowers the false-positive rate of PSA testing, reducing patient anxiety.