Prostate specific acid phosphatase: further studies with immunological techniques

In the continuing saga of examining new immunological methods for the measurement of prostate-specific acid phosphatase (PAcP), we have compared the new technique of immunoenzymatic assay (IEA) to radioimmunoassay (RIA). No marked advantages in either the early diagnosis or the follow-up of prostatic cancer were apparent, with comparable specificities and sensitivities for both methods. The simple procedure, inexpensive equipment and stable reagents needed for the IEA were its major advantages. A comparison with digital rectal examination suggests that until the 'at risk' population is screened regularly by a PAcP assay, the most appropriate use of the assay is monitoring treatment effectivity.