Prostate (PSA) Blood Test
PSA — prostate specific antigen — is a protein produced by the prostate. This panel measures both total and free PSA and the ratio between them, which gives more context than a total figure alone. It is an awareness test you can take privately at home. It is not a screening programme and not a diagnostic test: a result outside the reference range has several possible explanations, benign and otherwise, and always needs a GP's assessment.
PSA is not a cancer test. PSA can be raised by benign prostate enlargement, infection, recent ejaculation or cycling as well as by cancer, and a normal PSA does not rule cancer out. There is no NHS PSA screening programme. Any result outside range must be assessed by your GP.
You will be asked for your date of birth and mobile number at checkout — the laboratory labels every sample with your date of birth, and your results passcode is sent by text, separately from the report.
What this test measures
3 biomarkers, listed in full — nothing hidden behind a summary. Analysed in a UKAS-accredited UK laboratory.
Prostate (3)
- PSA Total
- PSA Free
- Free / Total PSA ratio (calculated)
How it works
- Order online. We send a home sample-collection kit to your door in discreet plain packaging.
- Collect your sample at home. A simple finger-prick, following the step-by-step instructions in the kit. Morning samples are best for hormones.
- Post it back free. Return it the same day in the prepaid Royal Mail envelope provided.
- UKAS-accredited analysis. Your sample is processed in a CQC-registered, UKAS-accredited UK laboratory.
- Your private results. A secure, password-protected report of your numbers against reference ranges, sent as soon as the laboratory reports them.
Frequently asked questions
Does this test diagnose prostate cancer?
No — and no PSA test can. PSA can be raised by benign prostate enlargement, infection, recent ejaculation, cycling or a recent examination as well as by cancer. This test gives you the numbers; any result outside the reference range must be taken to your GP, who can assess it properly.
Is there anything I should avoid before testing?
Avoid ejaculation and vigorous cycling for 48 hours before your sample, and do not test within a few weeks of a urinary infection or a prostate examination — all of these can raise PSA and give a misleading result.
At what age should men consider PSA testing?
Awareness typically begins around age 50, or earlier where there is a family history.
What are the downsides of PSA testing?
They are real, and worth knowing before you order. PSA can be raised when nothing is wrong, which can lead to further investigation including a biopsy that turns out to be unnecessary. It can also be normal when cancer is present, which may be falsely reassuring. There is no NHS PSA screening programme for exactly these reasons. Discuss testing with your GP before you decide.