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About the Prostate Test

As men grow older, the need to check their prostate health becomes more important. The prostate gland can become infected or enlarged. An enlarged prostate can cause problems ranging from frequent and difficult urination to intense abdominal pain. Make a prostate examination a routine part of your doctor's visits. The PSA test, or Prostate-Specific Antigen test, is a test to measure the health of your prostate.

  1. What Is the PSA?

    • Prostate-Specific Antigen is a protein produced by the prostate gland's cells. The PSA test measures the levels of this protein in the blood. Doctors take a sample of the patient's blood, and the protein levels are measured in a laboratory. Men have naturally low levels of PSA. Benign prostate conditions can raise these levels. Doctors use the PSA level to determine whether further testing is necessary for prostate cancer.

    Why Is It Performed?

    • The Federal Food and Drug Administration approved the use of the PSA test to help spot prostate cancer in men above the age of 50. The PSA test is also administered to patients who have a history of prostate cancer as a way of determining whether the cancer has begun to recede. A single reading of above average PSA level in a patient does not mean the cancer has returned. The test will be administered multiple times and the results cross-referenced to determine the probability of a return of the disease.

    Who Needs the PSA Test?

    • Doctors' recommendations for the age a man should get his first PSA test vary. The generally accepted rule is to have a preliminary test around the age of 40. Regular screenings should begin around age 50.

    Test Results

    • PSA test results reveal the levels of PSA protein in the blood sample. The reports are usually projected as nanograms of PSA per milliliter of blood. Doctors generally concede PSA levels of below 4.0 to be normal in men, although cancer has sometimes been diagnosed in men with PSA levels below 4.0. Thus, a specific PSA level varies from individual to individual, and the individual's doctor decides whether further testing is indicated.

    An Elevated PSA

    • If test results show an elevated level of PSA protein in the blood, doctors will discuss the results with the patient to determine what may have contributed to the test results. There are several factors that contribute to elevated PSA levels: prostate cancer, prostate enlargement, inflammation, infection, age and race. If the doctor does not suspect cancer, the PSA test will be repeated to verify the results. If the doctor does suspect cancer, a biopsy will be ordered.

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