Complexed PSA uses multiple measures of Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) to help doctors determine if cancerCancer is a group of diseases where cells grow abnormally an... Full Definition is present and if it is growing. This test may be performed on a blood sample already taken for a standard PSA test, with no additional patient procedure required.
Who is this test best for?
Men with higher than normal PSA levels who have not yet been diagnosed with prostate cancer. This test may produce fewer false positive results in men with PSA test results close to but above the normal range.
What to Expect
Blood drawn from the arm will be tested for Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA), an enzyme produced by the prostate. Complexed PSA test measures both PSA that is floating freely in the blood and PSA that is attached to other proteins in the blood. PSA levels rise with age, and men of different ethnicities may have naturally higher PSA levels, so discuss with your doctor what a healthy PSA level looks like for you. Elevated PSA levels do not definitively indicate cancer. Other causes of high PSA levels could be inflammation caused by prostatitis or a benign prostate enlargement. If your complexed PSA is elevated, your doctor may recommend additional tests.
Who orders or performs the test?
What are common side effects?
None