TRAP (Tartrate Resistant Acid Phosphatase)

Alternative names:

prostate specific acid phosphatase; prostatic acid phosphatase, prostatic ACP

What the risks are:

• excessive bleeding
• fainting or feeling lightheaded
• hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
• infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
• multiple punctures to locate veins

Special considerations:

Prostate surgery or prostate biopsy increases the level of prostate specific acid phosphatase for 1 or 2 days.

This test has largely been replaced by the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.