Prostate specific antigen (PSA), total
- Test Name:
- Prostate specific antigen (PSA), total
- Synonyms:
-
PSA
Total PSA
TPSA
- Patient Instructions:
- Waiting two weeks after DRE to collect blood for PSA is recommended
- Collection Device/Tube Type:
-
1. EDM Base Lab: 5 mL blood - GOLD SST (gel)
2. CGY DSC: 4.5 mL blood - MINT LIHEP PST (gel)
3. NOTE: The preferred tube type at each testing site is acceptable at the alternate site
- Submission Requirements:
- 1 mL serum or lithium heparin plasma
- Handling/Storage Comments:
-
• Refrigerated transport preferred, but not required except South Zone, refrigerated transport is required
• If transport delay of > 72 hours is expected between specimen collection and receipt at EDM Base Lab or CGY DSC, then transport refrigerated.
• If transport delay of > 5 days is expected between specimen collection and receipt at EDM Base Lab or CGY DSC, then:
• Spin and aliquot the serum or lithium heparin plasma
• freeze sample
• transport frozen - Frequency of Testing:
-
Daily
- Reference Range:
-
Gender
Age
PSA (ug/L)
Male
< 1 day
No reference interval available
1 day to < 50 years
< 2.6
50 to < 60 years
< 3.6
60 to < 70 years
< 4.6
≥ 70 years
< 6.6
Female
All
No reference interval available
Unknown/X
All
Refer to final report comment
- Comments:
- As per the 2014 Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care recommendations, the PSA test should not be used for prostate cancer screening of healthy, asymptomatic men. (Bell et al. 2014. CMAJ.186 (16) 1225-1234)
- Last Reviewed:
- 04 May 2023
