{"id":16472,"date":"2024-04-05T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-05T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/agilusdiagnostics.com\/blogs\/an-extensive-guide-to-the-psa-test-setting-up-performing-scaling-and-interpreting-the-results\/"},"modified":"2026-02-23T08:53:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T08:53:15","slug":"an-extensive-guide-to-the-psa-test-setting-up-performing-scaling-and-interpreting-the-results","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/agilusdiagnostics.com\/blogs\/an-extensive-guide-to-the-psa-test-setting-up-performing-scaling-and-interpreting-the-results\/","title":{"rendered":"An Extensive Guide to the PSA Test- Setting Up, Performing, Scaling, and Interpreting the Results"},"content":{"rendered":"

PSA test (<\/span>Prostate Specific Antigen tes<\/strong>t) is one of the types of blood test that is used for screening the chances of a patient suffering from prostate cancer. As the name suggests, the PSA test is meant to detect the amount of prostate-specific antigen in the patient’s blood to indicate if the condition is cancerous or normal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

PSA, which is mainly found in the semen, is a protein that’s produced by both non-cancerous or cancerous tissue within the prostate gland, which is located right below in the bladder of males. As per medical research, it is proven that small amounts of PSA will always circulate around the blood.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But, if the test results with <\/span>high levels of PSA<\/strong>, it indicates you have prostate cancer. That’s not it! It is because an inflamed or enlarged prostate can also spike the PSA levels in your blood. So, a proper diagnosis is recommended to determine the accurate PSA count in your body, following which the doctors shall run further diagnosis to finally determine the root cause of the spike.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let’s take this article forward and give you clarity on what the PSA test actually is and how it is performed and interpreted.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why is the PSA Test Recommended for Patients?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Prostate cancer is quite common and is a frequent cause that triggers cancer death. If the condition can be treated at the earliest, it will be helpful for the doctors to conduct appropriate treatment and might ensure possible recovery.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Prostate cancer results in spiking the <\/span>PSA levels<\/strong>, but that’s not the only reason for the elevation of this protein count. This is because some of the non-cancerous conditions might also increase the levels of PSA in your blood.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Depending on the specific symptoms that you encounter, your doctors will recommend you get the PSA test done on priority. This test will help detect the <\/span>high levels of PSA<\/strong> in your blood but won’t provide you with any precise diagnostic details associated with the prostate gland’s condition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

PSA test<\/a> is recommended as the most common procedure that can be used for screening the early signs of growing prostate cancer. But, to get more clarity about the results, doctors also recommend a digital rectal exam, where the doctors will insert a gloved or lubricated finger inside the rectum to reach the prostate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

By touching or feeling the prostate, the doctors will be able to specify if there are any hard areas or lumps over the gland. But, even both of these tests aren’t enough to specify perfect evidence on patients experiencing prostate cancer<\/a>. Therefore, the ultimate recommendation upon getting abnormal results from the PSA test and digital rectum test is prostate biopsy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For this procedure, a small part of the prostate tissue will be removed from your body and will be sent to the lab for being examined. The biopsy results will finally specify the accurate result on whether or not you are suffering from prostate cancer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A prostate biopsy might be the ultimate test to determine accurate results on the patient’s condition, but PSA is still an important test to identify the initial abnormalities in the gland, which will further lead the doctor to examine the condition further to come to a concluding statement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Symptoms Indicate the Need for You to Get a PSA Test?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Here are some <\/span>symptoms of a PSA<\/strong> level increase that possibly indicate the abnormalities in your prostate gland, acting as signs for you to see your doctor and get done with the test:<\/span><\/p>\n