Hi
A bit dissappointed today, just got my latest results from Kings. I have hovered at 0.037% for the last year but in July the result was undectable!!! Really pleased. Yesterdays results are 0.033%. I know I should be happy being where I am, but I feel that I have gone backwards. I was dx in July 2008 and on 400mg Glivec.
Tony
Hi Tony,
I know you must be disappointed but with pcr results there is always the possibility of small changes. This is because of the variables such as- the blood sample being left a little too long before testing; the temperature of the storage; the journey to the lab, etc. etc.
That is why we should not rely on just one sample... it might well be that your next result with again show all zero's, but even then this is depending on how sensitive the pcr machine is that particular lab. A different lab might well have a machine that is calibrated to detect even smaller amounts of bcr/abl and would show as positive.
The percentages are tiny but PCR undetectable is a misnomer and the CML clinicians I have met do not like to use this term.
Best wishes,
Sandy
