The PSA test measures the level of prostate specific antigen in the blood. An elevated level of PSA could indicate the presence of cancer and should be fully screened. However, elevated PSA could lead to another diagnosis and should be discussed with your doctor.
Men 50 and older are encouraged to get the PSA screening as are younger men who may be at a higher risk for prostate cancer. Risk factors include family history and race. Prostate cancer is more common among African American men than among white men. It is less common among Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Native American men.
Generally, doctors consider men with PSA results above 4.0 ng/mL to be at risk for prostate cancer. However, some use varying ranges of measures as shown below.
- 0 to 2.5 ng/mL is low
- 2.6 to 10 ng/mL is slightly to moderately elevated
- 10 to 19.9 ng/mL is moderately elevated
- 20 ng/mL or more is significantly elevated
You can learn more about the benefits of a PSA test by discussing it with your doctor and visiting the National Cancer Institute website for details.