PSA Blood Test

About this test

A simple way to check your PSA level

Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by cells within the prostate gland. PSA can be measured with a blood test and is one of the markers used when assessing prostate health.

A raised PSA level can occur for a number of reasons. These include benign prostate enlargement, prostatitis, urinary tract infection and recent prostate or sexual activity, as well as prostate cancer.

A PSA result should therefore not be viewed in isolation. If the result is raised, or if you have symptoms suggestive of prostate disease, further clinical assessment may be appropriate.

Prostate health testing

What does this test look at?

PSA level

Measures the level of Prostate-Specific Antigen circulating in your blood.

Prostate health

PSA can provide useful information when assessing prostate health alongside clinical assessment.

Urinary symptoms

PSA may form part of the assessment when investigating urinary or other symptoms related to the prostate.

Monitoring

PSA can also be used by healthcare professionals to monitor some known prostate conditions.

What's included

Your biomarker

This test measures one biomarker: Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA).

Important Pre-Test Information

Sexual Activity / Ejaculation

Avoid ejaculation and sexual intercourse for 48 hours before your PSA blood test, as this can temporarily affect PSA levels.

Cycling & Vigorous Exercise

Avoid vigorous cycling and unusually strenuous exercise for 48 hours before testing where practical, as these activities may influence PSA levels.

Urinary Infection / Prostatitis

Please postpone testing if you currently have a urinary tract infection or prostatitis, as inflammation or infection can raise PSA levels.

Recent Prostate Procedures

Recent prostate procedures can affect PSA levels. Please tell us if you have recently undergone a prostate procedure before arranging your test.

Digital Rectal Examination (DRE)

Ideally allow at least 1 week after a digital rectal examination before having your PSA test.

Prostate Biopsy

Ideally allow approximately 6 weeks after a prostate biopsy before PSA testing, unless your healthcare professional has advised otherwise.

Is this test right for me?

A focused prostate health marker

A PSA test may be considered by men who want to better understand their prostate health, particularly where there are urinary symptoms, relevant risk factors or a reason for monitoring a known prostate condition.

Prostate health assessment

Investigation of urinary symptoms

Monitoring a known prostate condition

Discussing prostate cancer risk

Important: PSA is not a stand-alone diagnostic test for prostate cancer. A raised PSA may have many causes, and a normal PSA does not completely exclude prostate cancer. Symptoms should always be assessed appropriately.

Simple process

What happens next?

Book

Choose your appointment and complete your booking online.

Get tested

Attend the clinic or arrange nationwide home blood collection.

Receive results

Your result is processed, reviewed and provided to you.