IMPORTANT NOTE: MOST COMMON PSA TEST

Synonyms: PSA

Why It Is Done

Monitor prostate cancer and how it responds to treatment.
Determine if cancer may be present when other tests, such as a digital rectal exam, are not normal.
Check men for prostate cancer.

Test Overview

A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen in the blood. PSA is released into a man's blood by his prostate gland. Healthy men have low amounts of PSA in the blood. The amount of PSA in the blood normally increases as a man's prostate enlarges with age. PSA may increase as a result of an injury, a digital rectal exam, sexual activity (ejaculation), inflammation of the prostate gland (prostatitis), or prostate cancer.

How To Prepare

No special preparation needed