PSA

Also known as: total PSA; free PSA; complex PSA

Formal name: Prostate-Specific Antigen

Related tests: Rectal examination

At a Glance

Why Get Tested?

To help detect and to monitor prostate cancer

When to Get Tested?

If you have symptoms of prostate disease, such as difficulty in passing urine, or passing urine more frequently than usual

Sample Required?

A blood sample taken from a vein in the arm

If you don't know what a word or a medical term means, try the Mondofacto Online Medical Dictionary .

This article was last reviewed on March 28, 2006. | This page was last modified on February 12, 2010.

The review date indicates when the article was last reviewed from beginning to end to ensure that it reflects the most current science. A review may not require any modifications to the article, so the two dates may not always agree.

The modified date indicates that one or more changes were made to the page. Such changes may or may not result from a full review of the page, so the two dates may not always agree.

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify.

We comply with the HONcode standard
for trustworthy health information.
Verify Compliance.

Produced by