Analyse the levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA), free prostate sepcific antigen and the ratio between them as one way to check the health of your prostate.
Prostate cancer is the commonest cancer in men. Although no diagnosis can be made from PSA testing alone, abnormal results need to be further investigated.
This test is well suited to a finger prick sample as well as a phlebotomy sample.
The Prostate Profile (Total & Free PSA) test is a blood test that measures the levels of two substances in your blood called prostate-specific antigens (PSA). PSA is produced by the prostate gland, which is a small organ in men located below the bladder.
This test has commonly been used to help detect prostate cancer. It is also very useful to monitor known prostate cancer cases.
This test measures two types of PSA: total PSA and free PSA. Total PSA refers to the overall amount of PSA in your blood, while free PSA refers to the amount of PSA that is not bound to other proteins. By comparing the levels of total and free PSA, doctors can get a better understanding of the likelihood of prostate cancer.
High PSA levels can be caused by ejaculating and other conditions, such as a benignly enlarged prostate or inflammation of the prostate.
You need to wait 48 hours after ejaculation before testing to avoid getting a high level due to this.
It is important to remember that this test is not very reliable. It does help with identifying cases of prostate cancer - and this is particularly true when men test themselves regularly and see increases over time, but there are many times when a high level is investigated and no cancer is found and other times when cancer is present with a normal PSA level.
Therefore, this test is not a definitive diagnosis for prostate cancer, but rather a tool to help doctors assess the risk and determine if further testing or monitoring is necessary.
It is often recommended for men over the age of 50 or those with a family history of prostate cancer to have a PSA done regularly and check for any changes in levels.
A PSA test (and a visit to a doctor) will be recommended If you have any symptoms of prostate problems such as
There are many types of hormones that support different bodily functions and processes including growth, metabolism, appetite and fertility. Hormone imbalances or deficiencies may be to blame for a wide range of symptoms and conditions.
Laboratory results are provided with reference ranges which are based on the normal test results of a large group of healthy people from the same age group and gender as yourself.
Sometimes, healthy people get results outside the reference range, while people with health problems can have results in the normal range. If your results fall outside the reference range, or if you have symptoms despite a normal result, you may require more testing or wish to discuss the result with your GP.
For simplicity, we provided your results graphically, so they are easy to understand. Any result flagged amber is outside of the standard range. Normal results are in green.
If you see ‘invalid result’ on any of your report pages, it’s nothing to worry about. Please call our Customer Service team on 020 7183 3718 and if required we will be able to arrange another blood test appointment free of charge or post you a home testing kit which you can post back to our laboratory
Our team of physicians is made up of some of the best in the field, including consultant pathologists, microbiologists, biochemists, haematologists and general practitioners who work together to provide you with a clear picture of your current health. High ethical standards and a commitment to excellence are at the heart of their work at London Medical Laboratory.