PSA (Prostate Screening)
Type
Blood Testing
Biomarkers
1
Duration
10 min
Results
4 days
Prostate-specific antigen for prostate cancer screening.
Cancer marker blood tests measure substances produced by cancer cells or by your body in response to cancer. Common markers include PSA (prostate-specific antigen) for prostate cancer screening, CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) used in colorectal cancer monitoring, CA-125 for ovarian cancer, and AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) for liver cancer. It's important to understand that tumor markers are not diagnostic on their own — elevated levels can have non-cancerous causes, and some cancers don't produce detectable markers. They are most valuable for monitoring treatment response, detecting recurrence, and as part of a broader screening strategy alongside imaging and clinical assessment.
Key Details
- Markers
- 1–10+ cancer markers
- Fasting Required
- No
- Sample Type
- Blood draw
- Turnaround
- 2–5 business days
- Important
- Screening tool, not diagnostic alone
Who Is This For?
Men over 50 (or over 40 with family history) for PSA prostate screening. Anyone with a family history of cancer who wants baseline marker levels. Cancer patients monitoring treatment response or screening for recurrence. Health-conscious individuals incorporating cancer markers into their annual screening protocol.
What's Included
Preparation Required
No fasting required for most tumor markers. For PSA testing: avoid ejaculation for 48 hours before the test, avoid vigorous cycling for 48 hours, and don't test during a urinary tract infection — all can temporarily elevate PSA. Inform your provider of any recent medical procedures.
- Category
- Diagnostic
- Sample Type
- Blood draw
- Duration
- 10 min
- Results
- 4 days