What is PSA?
- The PSA test is a blood test that measures the amount of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in your blood.
- PSA is a protein produced by normal cells in the prostate and also by prostate cancer cells. It’s normal to have a small amount of PSA in your blood, and the amount rises slightly as you get older and your prostate gets bigger.
- A raised PSA level may suggest you have a problem with your prostate, but not necessarily cancer.
Important factors to note when ordering a PSA testHigh-risk individuals would include those men with the following:
- PSA testing should only be done after a detailed, comprehensive explanation of the risks and benefits of prostate cancer screenings.
- A single baseline PSA level is suggested for all men aged 40 to 45.
- Yearly testing is reasonable in higher-risk men starting at age 45.
- A change of >0.75 ng/mL per year or >25% is considered suspicious.
- At least two separate elevated PSA tests are needed to confirm the increase.
- Routine screening should be stopped in men with ten years or less of life expectancy (based on comorbidities) or by age 75.
- Men who fall outside of guidelines but are fully informed and are requesting testing should have a PSA level performed.
- Patients who would not benefit from testing or refuse treatment if cancer were found should probably not be screened.
‣
Test workflow
Further information
https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information-and-support/prostate-tests/psa-blood-test