What is Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test?

The PSA test is a blood test used primarily to screen for prostate cancer. The test measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. PSA is a protein produced by both cancerous and noncancerous tissue in the prostate, a small gland that sits below the bladder in men.

What the Prostate Specific Antigen(PSA) test used for?

Prostate cancer is common, and a frequent cause of cancer death. Early detection may be an important tool in getting appropriate and timely treatment. For men who have already been diagnosed with prostate cancer, the PSA test may be used to:

• Judge the effectiveness of a treatment
• Check for recurring cancer

How is the procedure performed?

PSA is measured by a simple blood test that does not require fasting or special preparation. The doctor will send the sample to a lab. Results most often come back within several days.

What will be the results interprets?

Most laboratory readings, the result should be less than 4.0 ng/mL. The prostate gland generally increases in size and produces more PSA with increasing age, so it is normal to have lower levels in young men and higher levels in older men. If a man had a PSA level above 4.0 ng/mL doctors would often recommend a prostate biopsy to determine whether prostate cancer was present.