PSA Total in Dehradun

What is a PSA Total?

Prostate-specific antigen is a protein made by the prostate gland, and a small amount always leaks into the bloodstream. The level rises when the prostate is enlarged, inflamed or malignant, which is both the test's usefulness and its central difficulty: it is specific to the prostate but not to cancer. Benign prostatic enlargement, which affects most men as they age, prostatitis, a urinary infection, recent catheterisation, a prostate examination, cycling and ejaculation within the preceding two days all raise it. Conversely some prostate cancers produce little PSA, and drugs for benign enlargement such as finasteride roughly halve the reading, which must be accounted for or a genuine rise is missed. Values between about 4 and 10 ng/mL fall in what is often called the grey zone, where benign and malignant causes overlap most, and this is where free PSA and the free-to-total ratio add discrimination. The trend over time frequently carries more information than any single value, which is why doctors compare readings rather than reacting to one.

Why take this test?

PSA is discussed rather than simply ordered. Most guidance suggests a conversation about screening from around age 50, or from 45 where a father or brother has had prostate cancer, because screening detects cancers early but also finds slow-growing ones that would never have caused harm, leading to biopsies and treatment with their own consequences. That trade-off is a personal decision and worth understanding before testing. Beyond screening, PSA is indicated for urinary symptoms that suggest prostate involvement: a weak or interrupted stream, difficulty starting, straining, incomplete emptying, getting up repeatedly at night, or blood in the urine or semen. It is used to monitor known benign enlargement, and it is central to following treated prostate cancer, where a rising level after surgery or radiotherapy is the earliest sign of recurrence. Prepare properly: avoid ejaculation for 48 hours and vigorous cycling beforehand, and defer testing after a urinary infection or catheterisation.

• A discussed screening decision from around age 50
• From 45 where a father or brother has had prostate cancer
• Weak or interrupted stream, straining, or incomplete emptying
• Getting up repeatedly at night to pass urine
• Blood in the urine or semen
• Monitoring benign enlargement or treated prostate cancer

Normal reference ranges

Ranges are indicative for adults. Your report carries the lab-specific reference range and is reviewed by a LabONE pathologist; always interpret results with your doctor.

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