What does an elevated PSA level mean?

Point 1 of 3

PSA is a protein made by the prostate that's measured with a blood test. An "elevated" PSA usually means the number is above what's considered normal — traditionally the cutoff was 3–4 ng/mL. But a high PSA alone doesn't diagnose anything: it's a screening result, not a diagnosis, and it just signals that further testing may be needed to figure out why the number is high.

Sources

pcf.org
“PSA stands for Prostate Specific Antigen, a protein enzyme produced by the prostate and found mostly in the semen, with very small amounts released into the bloodstream. A PSA blood test measures the concentration of this protein in your blood”
“Historically, a PSA level of 3 or 4 ng/mL was considered the universal “cutoff” for a normal result.”
“It is important to highlight that a PSA test is a screening test, not a diagnostic test. A high result alerts you and your physician that more testing may be needed to determine if a prostate biopsy is necessary.”
View pcf.org ↗

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