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Test Code PSA Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), Total LAB116

Important Note

Manipulation of the prostate by rectal examination within 48 hours of specimen collection may result in elevated results. 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor drups may affect PSA levels.

Additional Codes

Prostate Specific Antigen Medicare Screen LAB2683 SQ code PSASCR  

Performance

Testing is performed Monday through Sunday.

Routine: Typically completed within 4 hours after the specimen arrives at the laboratory.

STAT: Typically completed within 1 hour after the specimen arrives at the laboratory.

Specimen Requirement

  1. Serum (Red/Gold)  is the specimen of choice.
  2. Lithium heparin plasma (Green) and EDTA plasma (Purple) are also acceptable sample types.
  3. Gel tubes are acceptable.
  4. It is recommended that the serum or plasma be separated from contact with cells within 2 hours from time of collection.
  5. PSA specimens are stable for 24 hours at 20-25°C, 5 days at 2-8°C, and 6 months at -20°C.

Useful For

For Prostate cancer screening order LAB2683

Elevated concentrations of PSA in serum are generally indicative of a pathologic condition of the prostate (prostatitis, benign hyperplasia or carcinoma). As PSA is also present in para‑urethral and anal glands, as well as in breast tissue or with breast cancer, low levels of PSA can also be detected in sera from women. PSA may still be detectable even after radical prostatectomy. The main areas in which PSA determinations are employed are the monitoring of progress and efficiency of therapy in patients with prostate carcinoma or receiving hormonal therapy. The steepness of the rate of fall in PSA down to no-longer detectable levels following radiotherapy, hormonal therapy or radical surgical removal of the prostate provides information on the success of therapy. An inflammation or trauma of the prostate (e.g. in cases of urinary retention or following rectal examination, cystoscopy, coloscopy, transurethral biopsy, laser treatment or ergometry) can lead to PSA elevations of varying duration and magnitude.

Reference Values

 

Males:

Age (Years) PSA Upper Limit 
<40  ≤ 2.0
 40-49  ≤ 2.5
 50-59  ≤ 3.5
 60-69  ≤ 4.5
 70-79  ≤ 6.5
 ≥ 80  ≤ 7.2

LOINC Code Information

2857-1 Prostate specific Ag [Mass/volume] in Serum or Plasma

Method

Chemiluminescent immunoassay (sandwich principle); Roche cobas Pro

CPT Information

84153 Chemistry: Prostate specific antigen; total

G0103 for Medicare billing

NCD Frequency Limitations: Medicare covers a screening total PSA test one each year for men over 50 years of age.

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