Skip to main content
Normal View

Cancer Screening Programmes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Questions (1568)

Seán Kenny

Question:

1568. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement to allay public concerns, particularly among older men, regarding the current controversy surrounding prostate cancer testing at Blanchardstown Hospital, Dublin [38564/13]

View answer

Written answers

The Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test is an initial test in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. While raised PSA levels can indicate prostate cancer, they can also arise in cases of certain benign prostate conditions, e.g. prostatitis. On average, two out of every three men who have a raised PSA level will not, on further examination, turn out to have prostate cancer. Also, there are cases of prostate cancer were raised PSA levels do not occur.

An international safety notice issued at the end of June stating that a particular Siemens PSA test kit had a positive bias, i.e. they were reading 20% to 23% higher than other similar tests and relative to the WHO standard. Upon receipt of this notice, Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown immediately ceased PSA testing using the Siemens test kit. An incident management team was set up on receipt of the field safety notice to address any potential risks. The testing kits in question were used at Connolly Hospital between February and June 2013 and 2186 patients were tested during that period. Of these patients, 162 received a result which may have indicated a need for further investigation. On 1 July Connolly Hospital wrote to GPs and Urologists informing them of the issue and advising that re-testing was available if required. GPs and Urologists were then in a position to inform patients and to make a clinical decision on any need for follow-up. As a further precautionary step, the hospital is reviewing the results of the 162 patients to determine if they feel that any further actions are necessary.

Top
Share