PSA is your prostate specific antigen.  It is a protein produced by cells of the prostate gland. The PSA test measures the level of PSA in the blood.  To do this test, the doctor takes a blood sample, and the amount of PSA is measured in a laboratory.

PSA levels are important to determine if you have prostate problems, particularly prostate cancer.

There are three different conditions which can affect your PSA levels.  These include:

• Prostatitis and Lower Urinary Tract symptoms can elevate PSA
• BPH (benign hypertrophy or enlargement of the prostate) can elevate PSA
• Prostate cancer often elevates PSA — but not always. Some of the most aggressive types of prostate cancer do not show high levels of PSA.

It is normal for men to have a low level of PSA in their blood; however, prostate cancer or benign (non cancerous) conditions can increase a man’s PSA level.

A PSA test is recommended for men over the age of 50 along with a rectal exam.  The main reason for this is to test for prostate cancer.  Regular screening is usually recommended.  However, if you have a family history of cancer, a PSA test may be recommended around the age of 40.

How will your PSA test be read?

PSA is reported as nanograms of PSA per milliliter of blood.  The normal levels may vary from doctor to doctor and lab to lab, but it may be around 4.0 ng/ml.  It has been shown that 25 to 35 percent of men who have a PSA over 4.1 and up to 9.9 have undergone a biopsy of their prostate and cancer has been found.

Unfortunately, as stated, there are no normal levels.  The PSA level can fluctuate even with inflammation, infection, age or prostatitis.  If you have one abnormal PSA test, this does not mean you need a biopsy or have cancer.  If the PSA level is high and continues to rise, it is more likely cancer is possible.  If this is the case, additional tests may be needed.

Prostate cancer can also be present in the complete absence of an elevated PSA level, in which case the test result would be a false positive.  In this case, other testing would be used in determination of the possibility of cancer and another PSA test may be conducted.