OBJECTIVE: Current studies have proven that early, organ-confined stages of 
prostate cancer can be diagnosed through screening based on PSA levels, thus 
reducing cancer mortality. Here we report about our experience using an 
innovative one-step test for PSA in capillary blood.
METHODS: The incubation time for a 50 microl blood sample with the indicator 
strip is 12 minutes until the qualitative visual results (<4.0 ng/ml or > or = 4 
ng/ml) appear. In cooperation with urologists and accompanied by an extensive 
information campaign, the one-step test was made available free of charge to all 
men between the ages of 45 and 75 in all 28 pharmacies of our city (100,000 
inhabitants).
RESULTS: The test's acceptance rate among the 2,119 participants between the 
ages of 45 and 75 years amounted to 13.0%. Fifteen percent of all the tests 
conducted showed a positive PSA result (> or = 4 ng/ml). Prostate carcinoma was 
histologically confirmed in 14 (0.66%) of the men, nine times in the early stage 
(T2) and five times in the clinical stage (T3), corresponding to an incidence of 
circa 650 cases per 100,000 men in the target age group.
CONCLUSIONS: This newly developed PSA test system can enhance the acceptance 
rate and effectiveness of medical check-ups for prostate cancer, because it is 
easy-to-use, cost-effective and accurate (specificity 81.3%, sensitivity 91.1%). 
The test should be always conducted by an experienced physician or pharmacist. 
It is not a substitute for a regular physical examination (DRE, TRUS, 
biopsy...).