A patient seated in the chair before a blood draw
In person

PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen)

Your PSA level, a protein made by the prostate, from one blood draw.

Loading price
  • 2,000+ lab locations. Find one near you
  • Nothing due at the lab. FSA / HSA accepted
  • Ordered by a licensed clinician

At a glance

Collection
Blood draw
A standard blood draw at the lab.
Preparation
None
Nothing to do ahead of time. Water is fine.
Results
1 to 3 days
Typical turnaround after your visit.
Where
2,000+ lab locations
Nationwide, with nothing due at the lab.

About this test

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein made by the prostate gland. PSA can rise for reasons other than cancer, such as an enlarged or inflamed prostate. Deciding whether to test is personal, so talk with a healthcare provider about the possible benefits and harms first.

For adults 18 and older with a prostate. Test availability varies by lab location.

Who should take this test?

This test is for adults with a prostate who are weighing PSA testing with a healthcare provider, tracking a past result, or have a family history of prostate conditions.

Ask about this test

Not sure this is the right test?

AI-generated. For information only, not medical advice. Call 911 for an emergency.

What does this test measure?

Your result shows your PSA level at the time of the draw, which a healthcare provider can read with your age, history, and past results to talk through any next steps.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), total
PSA is a protein made by the prostate gland. A small amount normally enters the blood. PSA can be higher with an enlarged prostate, inflammation or infection of the prostate, recent procedures on the prostate, or prostate cancer, so a raised result has more than one possible cause.
Why it’s measured: A protein made by the prostate that can rise for several reasons, not only cancer.

How it works

  1. Step 1

    Order online

    Check out here. A licensed clinician in your state reviews your order and sends it to the lab.

  2. Step 2

    Visit a lab

    Bring a photo ID to any of 2,000+ lab locations. No fasting needed, and nothing is due at the lab.

  3. Step 3

    Get your results

    Results post to your account, usually in 1 to 3 days, each number next to the lab’s reference range.

Find a lab near you

Choose from 2,000+ lab locations nationwide. Your order works at any of them.

What your results tell you

PSA is reported as a number and compared with the lab’s reference range. A healthcare provider may also compare it with your past results.

  • Your number next to the lab’s reference range
  • Explained in plain language
  • A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test.
  • A lab report you can download and share

A raised PSA has several possible causes. A healthcare provider decides whether to repeat the test or what follow-up makes sense for you.

Clinical-grade testing, from the comfort of home.

From the lab to your report, every step of our process meets the gold standard in medical testing.

  • CLIA-certified labs

    Every lab we partner with is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, meeting both state and federal standards with regular independent inspections.

  • We protect your health data

    We protect your health data with encryption and do not sell it. Some results must be reported to public health authorities by law. See our Privacy Notice.

  • Rigorous quality assurance

    All partner labs run regular internal quality checks, participate in proficiency testing, and comply with federal and state lab regulations.

  • Clinician-reviewed reports

    Results are reviewed by an independent, licensed clinician.

Questions

Common questions.

Anything else, our care team answers by phone, text, or email.

PSA can be higher with an enlarged prostate, which becomes more common with age, with inflammation of the prostate, or with prostate cancer. A raised result on its own cannot tell these apart.

A healthcare provider may repeat the test or suggest other steps, and decisions about further testing are made together with you.

The lab asks that this test not be collected after a transrectal prostate biopsy, because results may be falsely high. Some medicines for an enlarged prostate or for hair loss can lower PSA.

If either applies to you, tell your healthcare provider. Don’t stop or change any medicine or supplement without talking with your healthcare provider.

PSA testing has possible benefits and possible harms. A raised result can lead to follow-⁠up tests that carry their own risks, and a result within the range does not exclude prostate problems.

Talk with a healthcare provider about your age, family history, and preferences before you test, and about what a result would mean for you.

PSA testing is a personal decision. Talk with a healthcare provider about the possible benefits and harms before you test, and about what a result means for you.