Description:
PSA is a protein produced in the prostate gland that keeps semen in liquid form. Prostate cancer cells appear to produce this protein in elevated quantities. Measuring PSA levels, then, increases the chance for detecting the presence of cancer when it is microscopic. Free Prostatic Specific Antigen - test measures the amount of PSA in the blood. The prostate gland produces a protein called prostate specific antigen, or PSA for short. The higher amounts of PSA found, the more likely prostate cancer is present. A high PSA level does not always mean cancer, however. The test consists of a simple blood draw, and results are generally available within hours to a few days depending on the lab facilities your physician uses.