Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

1 mL aliquot of serum; minimum 0.5 mL. Please submit a separate frozen aliquot for this test. It may not be combined with any other test requiring a frozen aliquot.

Samples should be obtained before rectal examination, biopsy, prostatectomy, or prostatic massage, since manipulating the prostate gland may lead to elevated PAP levels persisting up to 24-48 hours.

Allow to clot. Centrifuge 10 minutes at 3000 rpm.

Frozen.

Room Temperature: 24 hours. Refrigerated: 24 hours. Frozen: 4 weeks.

Grossly hemolyzed samples. Stability limits exceeded.

Male: <2.8 ng/mL 
Female: Not established

PAP values from different assay methods cannot be used interchangeably. This assay was performed using the DPC Chemiluminescence method.

Prostatic acid phosphatase.

ACID PHOS, PROSTATIC, PAP, Quest test code 208

High concentrations of acid phosphatase are found in the prostate gland. Significant amounts are also found in platelets, bone, spleen, kidney and liver. Prostatic Acid Phosphatase (PAP) is a component of total acid phosphates and is a major constituent in seminal fluid and is also secreted in the urine. PAP is normally found in serum in very low levels. PAP measurement has found clinical application in the management of prostatic cancer patients. Serum PAP measurements have been useful in monitoring remission or relapse of a prostatic malignancy and in assessing the effectiveness of various treatment regimes. Thus, normalization in serum PAP levels has been observed following successful therapeutic intervention, while recurrent or residual disease has been associated with elevated levels of PAP.