What is a PSA test, and what PSA level is normal?

What does the PSA test measure?

PSA is a protein made by the prostate. A low level in the blood is normal; a high level may be caused by prostate cancer, an enlarged prostate or an infection. MedlinePlus

Why is the PSA test ordered?

• To screen for prostate cancer before symptoms; screening cannot diagnose cancer, and a biopsy is the only way to find out if a high PSA is caused by cancer. MedlinePlus
• To follow people already treated for prostate cancer over time. ARUP Laboratories

What are typical PSA ranges?

ARUP Laboratories publishes a single interval for total PSA by its Roche assay. ARUP Laboratories

Reference ranges differ between laboratories and testing methods, and many also differ by age, sex, pregnancy or the phase of the menstrual cycle. The range printed on your own report is the one that applies to your result, and a clinician interprets it alongside your history.

MedlinePlus notes there is no specific normal or abnormal PSA level: it is possible to have a high PSA without cancer, or a low PSA with cancer. MedlinePlus

The USPSTF says PSA screening for men aged 55 to 69 should be an individual decision made with a clinician, and recommends against screening at 70 and older. USPSTF

What can affect PSA results?

• Avoid ejaculation for 24 hours before the test, because releasing semen can raise PSA. MedlinePlus
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate inflammation can also raise PSA. ARUP Laboratories
• Results from different test methods cannot be used interchangeably, so follow-up tests are best done at the same lab. ARUP Laboratories

When should you talk to a clinician about a PSA result?

• Before screening, the USPSTF advises discussing potential benefits and harms, such as false positives and overdiagnosis, with a clinician. USPSTF

DiscoverMedica explains what a test measures and what named sources publish. It does not interpret individual results; the clinician who ordered your test, or one you choose, does.

Where can you get a PSA test?

A clinician can order it as part of routine or follow-up care. Some services also let you order lab tests yourself; check that a service’s panel includes this marker, which laboratory runs it, and who reviews the result with you.

• Function HealthAnnual membership for broad lab panels, drawn at Quest sites or at home.
• Quest HealthOrder individual lab tests from Quest Diagnostics online, without a doctor’s visit.

PSA Test: questions, answered

Sources

1. MedlinePlus: Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test
2. ARUP Laboratories: Prostate Specific Antigen, Total (test 0070121)
3. USPSTF: Prostate Cancer Screening Recommendation

Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Every source above was checked on or before that date. Educational information only, not medical advice; it does not replace a conversation with a licensed clinician. DiscoverMedica does not employ clinicians.