Analytical verification and comparative assessment of the new Atellica IM high-sensitivity prostate specific antigen assay.

OBJECTIVES

Despite standardization efforts, significant inter-assay variability persists among prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests, impacting prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis and monitoring. We aimed to evaluate the analytical and clinical performance of the newly developed Atellica IM high-sensitivity PSA (hsPSA Atellica) assay compared with established PSA assays.

METHODS

A total of 236 serum samples from healthy individuals and patients with or without PCa were analyzed using the hsPSA Atellica assay and four FDA-approved PSA assays: Hybritech Access, Architect, Atellica, and Cobas. Analytical performance included limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), linearity, inter-assay precision, and hook effect. Method comparison was performed using Passing-Bablok regression, Bland-Altman analysis, and kappa index concordance.

RESULTS

The hsPSA Atellica assay demonstrated a LOD of 0.01 μg/L and LOQ of 0.028 μg/L (CV: 3.2 %, accuracy: 115 %). Precision was maintained across concentrations, with CVs of 4.2 %, 3.8 %, and 2.4 % at low, medium, and high levels of PSA. Strong agreement was observed with the compared tests, particularly with Cobas and Hybritech PSA assays. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity at the 4 μg/L clinical decision threshold were 98 % and 35 %, respectively. In 87 samples between 3 and 10 μg/L, concordance between hsPSA Atellica and Hybritech reached 96.6 % (κ=0.82). The assay remained accurate up to PSA concentrations of 13,311 μg/L, showing minimal hook effect.

CONCLUSIONS

The hsPSA Atellica assay shows excellent analytical sensitivity and strong agreement with established assays. To our knowledge, this is the first published evaluation of this assay, supporting its clinical utility in both PCa diagnosis and follow-up.