Readers of this blog are aware that the standard of care regarding prostate cancer screening and testing has been evolving in the last few years, from [2015](http://cmglaw.com/Blog/2015/05/Drop-in-Prostate-Cancer-Testing-Fol) to [2017](http://cmglaw.com/Blog/2017/04/New-prostate-cancer-screening-guide).

As of 2018, the guidelines recommended that men ages 70 and older do not undergo screening for prostate cancer, and men 55-69 have a discussion with their doctors about the potential benefits and risks (including unnecessary biopsies after false positive PSA test results).

Now, researchers are hopeful a new blood test will be more accurate in diagnosing aggressive prostate cancer necessitating treatment.

The Journal of Urology published the findings of this recent study, which looked at the efficacy of a new test combined with the old PSA test, and found that it is more than 90% accurate at diagnosing cancer that needs treatment.

This is potentially big news, since one big reason why the guidelines did not recommend prostate cancer screening was because the PSA test alone resulted in so many false positives. Further, even when the PSA test was positive and accurate, not all prostate cancers require treatment, particularly slow growing ones.

Validation studies need to be completed before the test is ready to be used on patients, and this is estimated to take 3-5 years. After that, hopefully the standard of care, as reflected in updated guidelines, will be to use this new test and screen for what really matters: aggressive cancer that needs treatment.

You can read more on this new test here:

[New prostate cancer blood test could reduce biopsies](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326366.php)