Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test: Purpose and Procedure

The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is a blood test used to screen for prostate cancer and monitor the progression of the disease in men who have been diagnosed with it. Elevated PSA levels may indicate the presence of prostate cancer, but further diagnostic tests are needed to confirm the diagnosis.
Category
Diagnostic Test
Where to get
Available in medical laboratories and diagnostic centers
Applicable for
Prostate Cancer Screening
Prepared by Nick Harper, reviewed by Dr. David James Simpson

Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test FAQ


Image credit: cancer.net

What is a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test?

Cancer.gov: “Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test.” The prostate specific antigen (PSA) test is used to measure blood PSA levels and help detect prostate cancer or other prostate abnormalities. Learn more about the PSA blood test at WebMD.

What is a prostate-specific antigen test?

A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is a blood test that measures the level of PSA in a sample of your blood. PSA is a protein made by your prostate. The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system. It lies just below the bladder. It makes the fluid part of semen. It's normal to have a low level of PSA in your blood.

What is a PSA test?

The PSA test is a blood test that measures the amount of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. It can help to diagnose prostate cancer. Your doctor or nurse takes a sample of your blood. This can be done at your GP practice. They then send this off to a laboratory to check the amount of PSA.

Can a PSA test tell you if you have prostate cancer?

So a PSA test alone can’t usually tell you if you have prostate cancer. It is the first step in deciding if you need more tests. Many men with a raised PSA level don't have prostate cancer. And some men with a normal PSA level do have prostate cancer.

Does an increased PSA test mean you have prostate cancer?

The PSA blood level is also increased in other conditions. So having an increased PSA test result does not mean that you have prostate cancer. Experts disagree on how useful the PSA test is. There is a lot of ongoing research about PSA. At the moment there is no national screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK. What is a PSA test?

Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test References

If you want to know more about Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test, consider exploring links below:

What Is Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test

  1. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/psa-testing/
  2. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/tests-and-scans/prostate-specific-antigen-psa-test
  3. https://www.cancer.gov/types/prostate/psa-fact-sheet
  4. https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/diagnostic-tests/psa-test
  5. https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information-and-support/prostate-tests/psa-blood-test
  6. https://patient.info/mens-health/prostate-and-urethra-problems/prostate-specific-antigen-test-psa
  7. https://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/psa
  8. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/psa-test/about/pac-20384731
  9. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/prostate-specific-antigen-psa-test/

Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test Information

  1. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prostate-specific-antigen-testing-description-in-brief
  2. https://patients.uroweb.org/tests/psa-testing/

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