Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)

It's normal to have a low level of PSA in your blood. A high PSA level may have several possible causes. A PSA test can't show what is causing abnormal PSA levels. So, if your level is high, you may need other tests.

There is no single normal or abnormal level for PSA in blood. In general, the higher your PSA level, the more likely it is that you have prostate cancer, but it's possible to have a high PSA without cancer (for example, with an enlarged prostate or prostatitis), or a low PSA with cancer.

Many labs report PSA against age-specific limits because PSA tends to rise gradually with age. A PSA above the age-based limit is suspicious but does not by itself diagnose cancer; further tests, such as a prostate biopsy, may be needed.

If you had a PSA test for a prostate cancer screening or because you have prostate symptoms, your provider will help you understand what your level means in context.

If you have had your prostate removed for cancer, PSA should drop to very low levels. A value above about 0.2 ng/mL after prostatectomy is usually considered a sign that the cancer may have come back. Your provider will usually look at several test results over time to get a better understanding of your condition.

If you have questions about your results, talk with your provider.