Originally published by Harvard Health.

What Is It?

The prostate-specific antigen blood test (PSA test) is a screening test. It measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in a man’s blood.

PSA is a chemical made by the prostate. The prostate is a sex gland located near a man’s bladder. It produces the fluid in semen.

PSA levels normally increase as a man ages. But a higher-than-normal PSA level can be one clue that cancer has developed in the prostate gland.

However, high levels of PSA also can be found in other conditions that are noncancerous. These include prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), an enlargement of the prostate that affects many older men.

What It’s Used For

A PSA test is used mainly as a screening test for cancer of the prostate. In men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, PSA is measured to determine if the cancer has returned after surgery. It can also be used to determine whether the cancer is growing or shrinking after treatment with hormones or radiation.

The question of whether or not to perform screening tests for prostate cancer remains controversial. PSA testing can be used to detect the earliest stage of prostate cancer, before the disease causes any symptoms. Many experts believe that PSA testing is the best way to reduce a man’s chance of dying from prostate cancer. This is because the early stages of prostate cancer are much more likely to be curable.

However, other experts fear that if PSA is overused, some men will be diagnosed and treated for cancers that have little potential to cause harm. Many older men develop prostate cancer that never spreads and never causes any problems. Most of these harmless cancers would go undetected if screening was not done.

In addition, treatment for prostate cancer can have serious side effects. Screening all men for prostate cancer and treating potentially harmless cancer might end up causing more harm than good.

Unfortunately, there is no reliable way to determine in advance which cancers need treatment and which are likely to be harmless.

At present, most expert panels do not recommend routine PSA testing for all older men. Instead, they encourage men who are at risk of the disease to make an individual decision about screening. The decision should be made after discussing the risks and benefits with a health care professional.

A man who decides to undergo screening for prostate cancer might think the following:

“The PSA test is the best way to protect myself from dying of prostate cancer. I know that most men with prostate cancer die from something else. But what if I could have been saved if a diagnosis was made early? For me, I would rather deal with the uncertainty of what an abnormal PSA actually means. Also I am ready to accept the possible side effects of biopsies and treatment. I’m one of those people who just needs to know.”

A man who chooses not to be screened might think this way:

“No one is sure if screening really helps, and it may actually lead to unnecessary treatment. I think I’ll wait until we have a better test that can predict which men are more likely to die because of prostate cancer.”

For men who want to be screened for prostate cancer, the PSA test is usually done every one to two years, beginning at age 50. Men with an increased risk of prostate cancer may wish to begin screening at age 45. African-American men and men whose father or brother has been diagnosed with prostate cancer are at increased risk for prostate cancer. In addition to a blood test for PSA, most doctors also perform a digital rectal exam.

PSA testing is likely to be less useful in men older than age 75 and men who have serious medical problems or other reasons for a limited life expectancy. This is because it may take a decade or more for prostate cancer to grow from the stage at which it can be first detected to the point where it causes symptoms or harm.

Preparation

Ejaculation can cause your PSA to rise briefly. So you should abstain from sexual activity for at least 48 hours before having your PSA level tested.

Blood for your PSA test probably will be taken from your arm. Wear a shirt or sweater with sleeves that roll up easily.

If you recently have had cystoscopy or needle biopsy of the prostate, let your doctor know so you can schedule your PSA test at another time. Those exams can raise PSA levels for a few weeks. This may make it harder to interpret the result of your PSA test.

PSA testing also should not be done until several weeks after you have been treated for a urinary tract infection.

How It’s Done

Blood for a PSA test usually is drawn from a vein in the crook of your elbow. The area from which blood will be taken will be cleaned with an alcohol swab. A sterile needle will be used to draw a few ounces of blood into a tube. The puncture site will be covered with a small gauze or bandage. Your blood sample will be sent to a lab where the PSA level is measured.

Follow-Up

You should receive your PSA test result within one week after your blood was drawn. If you haven’t, call your doctor’s office. If your result is abnormal and you had a normal digital rectal exam, your doctor may recommend doing additional blood tests now or repeating the PSA test later on. Alternatively, your doctor may order a prostate ultrasound and refer you to a urologist for prostate biopsy.

Risks

Having your blood drawn is a simple procedure. There are few, if any, risks.

However, when used as a screening test, PSA does have some risks. These include:

• A risk that your PSA test will be abnormal and that you will need to undergo further testing, such as a prostate biopsy. Keep in mind that as many as three-quarters of men with an elevated PSA level do not have prostate cancer. However, many men who are told that their PSA test is abnormal will have some anxiety until final results are available.
• A risk that screening will lead to treatment for prostate cancer that may or may not be necessary, but that may cause serious side effects.
• A risk that your PSA level will be normal even if you do have prostate cancer.

Be sure to discuss these risks and the benefits of PSA testing with your doctor before you have your blood drawn.

When To Call A Professional

Call your doctor if blood continues to ooze from the needle puncture site. Also call if the site becomes red, swollen or painful.

Additional Info

American Cancer Society (ACS)
1599 Clifton Rd., NE
Atlanta, GA 30329-4251
Toll-Free: (800) 227-2345
http://www.cancer.org/

National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Public Inquiries Office
Suite 3036A
6116 Executive Blvd., MSC 8322
Bethesda, MD 20892-8322
Phone: (301) 435-3848
Toll-Free: (800) 422-6237
http://www.nci.nih.gov/