PSA Test for Prostate Cancer The PSA test measures the amount of Prostate-Specific Antigen in your blood. Currently, it is the best tool we have for catching prostate cancer early, when it's most treatable. Find a Free Screening Location Jump To Jump To Your Age Your Score How to Get Tested Find a Free Screening Location What is the PSA Test?The most common screening tool for prostate cancer is the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. This simple test measures the level of PSA in your blood. It is usually the first step in detecting prostate cancer. What is Prostate-Specific Antigen?PSA is a protein produced by prostate cells that keeps semen in liquid form so that sperm can swim. In most cases of prostate cancer, the PSA level increases, which is why the PSA test is used as a screening tool. Zero Stigma. Zero Barriers. Since 1996, ZERO Prostate Cancer has supported millions of people at risk, diagnosed, and their families. As the voice of the prostate cancer community, ZERO has led the way in prostate cancer advocacy and support—with an urgent focus on breaking barriers to survival by closing gaps in diagnosis, treatment, and care. Blitz the Barriers When Should I Consider Screening? How Do I Understand my PSA Test Results? The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) regularly publishes expert guidelines, including for prostate cancer early detection. This graphic summarizes their Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology for Prostate Cancer Early Detection (NCCN Guidelines®). The first step is to talk with your doctor about your personal risk and the pros and cons of screening.This chart helps explain PSA levels by age, and how scores should be interpreted based on your race, family history, past test results, and other factors. Prostate Cancer Early Detection:Age Recommendations and PSA Levels Chart Age 40–75 High-risk individuals: Black/African Americans Those with genetic mutations Family or personal history of cancer Discuss benefits and risks of prostate cancer screening with your doctor. Have a baseline PSA and consider a baseline DRE. High-risk individuals: If PSA ≤ 3 ng/mL and DRE normal (if done), repeat every 1–2 years If PSA > 3 ng/mL and/or suspicious DRE, talk with your doctor about further testing Age 45–75 Average-risk individuals Discuss benefits and risks of prostate cancer screening with your doctor. Have a baseline PSA and consider a baseline DRE. Average-risk individuals: If PSA < 1 ng/mL and DRE normal, repeat every 2–4 years If PSA 1–3 ng/mL and DRE normal, repeat every 1–2 years If PSA > 3 ng/mL and/or suspicious DRE, talk with your doctor about further testing Age 75+ Talk with your doctor about whether prostate cancer screening should continue. Testing after 75 is only recommended in very healthy individuals. If screened and PSA ≥ 4 ng/mL or very suspicious DRE, talk with your doctor about further testing. Based on National Comprehensive Cancer Network® Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Prostate Cancer Early Detection 2025. Click here to download the PSA levels recommendations chart in image, PDF, or print format. What if my PSA level is high?An elevated PSA score may be an indication of prostate cancer. However, there are several other reasons why a PSA result might be high, including age, race/ethnicity, recent physical or sexual activity (for example, ejaculation within the past 24 hours or recently riding a bicycle), medications, and other health conditions like an enlarged prostate or a urinary tract infection. If you have an elevated PSA, additional tests may be recommended, including:Additional PSA testsA digital rectal exam (DRE)ImagingOther blood or urine testsA prostate biopsy. Only a biopsy can confirm the presence or absence of prostate cancer. What if my PSA level is low?In general, a low PSA is a good result. However, there are some reasons a PSA level may be artificially low, including drugs to lower cholesterol, drugs to treat an enlarged prostate, and obesity (body fat decreases the amount of PSA circulating in the bloodstream). Be sure to discuss these with your doctor.What if my PSA is rising quickly?The rate of yearly increase in the PSA level is known as the PSA velocity. An abnormally high PSA velocity can be a sign of prostate cancer, so it's one measure of risk that your doctor will use to consider next steps. This can be especially useful to find prostate cancer in early stages before the cancer has spread outside of the prostate. Downloadable Information What You Need to Know About the PSA Test Download our prostate cancer screening guide to learn more about the PSA test. View the Guide How Can I Get a PSA Test?Talk to your primary care doctor or urologist about receiving a PSA test. If you do not have a doctor or insurance (or if your insurance does not cover PSA screening), take a look at ZERO's free PSA screening search tool and see if there are sites near you where free testing may be available. You can also search for Federally-Qualified Health Centers in your area. These health centers offer free or reduced-cost medical care, including screening tests. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN) and ZERO strongly recommend that men be fully educated about prostate cancer, know their options for early detection, and have access to the tests we have available now. Researchers are working every day to improve prostate cancer screening. Learn more about ZERO's advocacy efforts in early detection and access to PSA screening. What if I’ve Had Prostate Cancer Treatment, and my PSA Levels are Rising?After treatment for prostate cancer, PSA levels should drop significantly. A regular PSA test is one of the tools the doctor will use to measure if the cancer may have returned.When PSA levels rise to a certain threshold after prostate cancer treatment, this is known as biochemical recurrence. This means that some cancer cells have survived and are producing PSA. If this happens, the doctor will order additional tests and, based on those tests, may make recommendations for more treatment. Free Prostate Cancer Testing Near You Talk to your doctor about your risk for prostate cancer and when to begin PSA testing. If you do not have a doctor, do not have insurance, or cannot afford a test, find out if free screenings are available in your area. Find a Free Screening Location
What is the PSA Test?The most common screening tool for prostate cancer is the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. This simple test measures the level of PSA in your blood. It is usually the first step in detecting prostate cancer. What is Prostate-Specific Antigen?PSA is a protein produced by prostate cells that keeps semen in liquid form so that sperm can swim. In most cases of prostate cancer, the PSA level increases, which is why the PSA test is used as a screening tool.
Zero Stigma. Zero Barriers. Since 1996, ZERO Prostate Cancer has supported millions of people at risk, diagnosed, and their families. As the voice of the prostate cancer community, ZERO has led the way in prostate cancer advocacy and support—with an urgent focus on breaking barriers to survival by closing gaps in diagnosis, treatment, and care. Blitz the Barriers
When Should I Consider Screening? How Do I Understand my PSA Test Results? The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) regularly publishes expert guidelines, including for prostate cancer early detection. This graphic summarizes their Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology for Prostate Cancer Early Detection (NCCN Guidelines®). The first step is to talk with your doctor about your personal risk and the pros and cons of screening.This chart helps explain PSA levels by age, and how scores should be interpreted based on your race, family history, past test results, and other factors.
Prostate Cancer Early Detection:Age Recommendations and PSA Levels Chart Age 40–75 High-risk individuals: Black/African Americans Those with genetic mutations Family or personal history of cancer Discuss benefits and risks of prostate cancer screening with your doctor. Have a baseline PSA and consider a baseline DRE. High-risk individuals: If PSA ≤ 3 ng/mL and DRE normal (if done), repeat every 1–2 years If PSA > 3 ng/mL and/or suspicious DRE, talk with your doctor about further testing Age 45–75 Average-risk individuals Discuss benefits and risks of prostate cancer screening with your doctor. Have a baseline PSA and consider a baseline DRE. Average-risk individuals: If PSA < 1 ng/mL and DRE normal, repeat every 2–4 years If PSA 1–3 ng/mL and DRE normal, repeat every 1–2 years If PSA > 3 ng/mL and/or suspicious DRE, talk with your doctor about further testing Age 75+ Talk with your doctor about whether prostate cancer screening should continue. Testing after 75 is only recommended in very healthy individuals. If screened and PSA ≥ 4 ng/mL or very suspicious DRE, talk with your doctor about further testing. Based on National Comprehensive Cancer Network® Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Prostate Cancer Early Detection 2025. Click here to download the PSA levels recommendations chart in image, PDF, or print format.
What if my PSA level is high?An elevated PSA score may be an indication of prostate cancer. However, there are several other reasons why a PSA result might be high, including age, race/ethnicity, recent physical or sexual activity (for example, ejaculation within the past 24 hours or recently riding a bicycle), medications, and other health conditions like an enlarged prostate or a urinary tract infection. If you have an elevated PSA, additional tests may be recommended, including:Additional PSA testsA digital rectal exam (DRE)ImagingOther blood or urine testsA prostate biopsy. Only a biopsy can confirm the presence or absence of prostate cancer. What if my PSA level is low?In general, a low PSA is a good result. However, there are some reasons a PSA level may be artificially low, including drugs to lower cholesterol, drugs to treat an enlarged prostate, and obesity (body fat decreases the amount of PSA circulating in the bloodstream). Be sure to discuss these with your doctor.What if my PSA is rising quickly?The rate of yearly increase in the PSA level is known as the PSA velocity. An abnormally high PSA velocity can be a sign of prostate cancer, so it's one measure of risk that your doctor will use to consider next steps. This can be especially useful to find prostate cancer in early stages before the cancer has spread outside of the prostate.
Downloadable Information What You Need to Know About the PSA Test Download our prostate cancer screening guide to learn more about the PSA test. View the Guide
How Can I Get a PSA Test?Talk to your primary care doctor or urologist about receiving a PSA test. If you do not have a doctor or insurance (or if your insurance does not cover PSA screening), take a look at ZERO's free PSA screening search tool and see if there are sites near you where free testing may be available. You can also search for Federally-Qualified Health Centers in your area. These health centers offer free or reduced-cost medical care, including screening tests. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN) and ZERO strongly recommend that men be fully educated about prostate cancer, know their options for early detection, and have access to the tests we have available now. Researchers are working every day to improve prostate cancer screening. Learn more about ZERO's advocacy efforts in early detection and access to PSA screening.
What if I’ve Had Prostate Cancer Treatment, and my PSA Levels are Rising?After treatment for prostate cancer, PSA levels should drop significantly. A regular PSA test is one of the tools the doctor will use to measure if the cancer may have returned.When PSA levels rise to a certain threshold after prostate cancer treatment, this is known as biochemical recurrence. This means that some cancer cells have survived and are producing PSA. If this happens, the doctor will order additional tests and, based on those tests, may make recommendations for more treatment.
Free Prostate Cancer Testing Near You Talk to your doctor about your risk for prostate cancer and when to begin PSA testing. If you do not have a doctor, do not have insurance, or cannot afford a test, find out if free screenings are available in your area. Find a Free Screening Location
