Prostate PSA Testing

Prostate Specific Antigen

Prostate cancer will claim over 30,000 lives and 232.090 new cases will occur in the U.S. during 2005, according to the American Cancer Society. By the end of the 1970’s blood tests had been developed for several cancers, but only one marker has been discovered that allows for early detection of disease and is useful in testing for EARLY prostate cancer. That marker is the “prostate specific antigen”. Even in early prostate cancers the PSA level will rise so that most prostate cancers can be detected in their earliest stage.

PSA levels can be measured by a simple blood test. The FDA has approved the PSA test to help detect prostate cancer in men age 50 and older. The American Cancer Society has recommended that the PSA and DRE (digital rectal examination) be offered annually to men beginning at age 50. Men at high risk (African American men and men with a strong family history of 1 or more first degree relatives diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age) should begin testing at age 45.

In addition to early detection, the PSA test is also useful in monitoring the effectiveness of treatment so it is important to know your baseline PSA value.

PSA levels may also be elevated in a prostate condition known as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). As the name implies, the condition is bening and therefore not cancerous. However, some studies have suggested an increased risk of prostate cancer in men who have BPH. In more that 50% of American men, BPH occurs naturally as men age. There are several well established medications to treat this condition, so knowing you have the condition is the first step to getting help.

Another common condition in which PSA levels may be elevated is prostatitis. Prostatitis is often a result of infection of the prostate with common bacteria such as E. coli, or sexually transmitted disease bacteria such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. As with BPH, there are several well establsihed medications to treat prostatitis and a visit to your doctor can help him or her understand which condition you have and what to do next. The PSA test, as with all laboratory tests, must be evaluated in a clinical context with your private physician or clinic.

To purchase a PSA test simply order online at LabSafe at http://www.labsafe.com/lab-tests/test/480/ or visit our website at http://www.labsafe.com/

For more information, or to speak with a member of our professional Medical Staff, call LabSafe toll free at 1-888-333-LABS.