PSA

Injury	Diseases	Nutrition	Poison
Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Overview

Results

Risks

Prevention

Alternative Names

Prostate-specific antigen; Prostate cancer screening test

Normal Values

No certain PSA level that is called normal or abnormal. No PSA level means you do or do not have prostate cancer. Remember that the PSA test cannot diagnose cancer. Only a biopsy can diagnose cancer. Always discuss PSA test results with your doctor

Your doctor will look at your PSA results and must consider your age, your race, medicines you are taking, and a number of other factors to decide whether your PSA is normal and whether you need more tests done.

Older men typically have slightly higher PSA levels than younger men. Normal ranges by age group commonly used include:

text continues below

Men below age 50: PSA less than 2.5
Men 50 - 59 years: PSA level less than 3.5
Men 60 - 69 years: PSA level less than 4.5
Men older than 70 years: PSA level less than 6.5

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

What abnormal results mean

A high PSA level has been linked to an increased chance of having prostate cancer. However, a high PSA level only identifies patients at higher risk of having prostate cancer.

As a general guideline, the following results indicate a need for further follow-up and testing:

A PSA of 4 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) for most men
For men under age 49, levels above 2.5 ng/mL
For men aged 50 - 59, levels above 3.5 ng/mL
For men aged 60 - 69, levels above 4.5 ng/mL
A significant rise from one year to the next may also indicate a higher risk of having prostate cancer.
African Americans and Asian Americans may need follow-up testing if they have lower PSA levels.
A rapidly changing PSA, even within the normal range, raises the likelihood of cancer.

Keep in mind that, although PSA testing is an important tool for detecting prostate cancer, it is not foolproof. Your doctor must also think about other factors besides cancer that may cause higher PSA values: