The short answer
PSA is a protein made by your prostate, and a blood test for it is the first step in checking for prostate cancer.1 It isn’t a cancer test on its own: an enlarged or inflamed prostate raises it too.2 Labcorp’s normal range runs up to 4.0 ng/mL.8
- A good result
- Under 1 ng/mL from 40 to 69, or under 3 from 70. Both point to a low risk of serious prostate cancer for years to come.1,2
- If yours is high
- Repeat it first. Between 25% and 40% of new high results are normal on a second test.1 If it stays high, an MRI usually comes before any biopsy.1,2
- Should you test?
- It’s your choice, ideally made with a clinician. US urology guidelines suggest a first test at 45 to 50, or at 40 to 45 if you’re Black, have a strong family history or carry a gene change such as BRCA2.1
Check your result
Type the number from your report. It stays on this page.
- Low Under 1.0
- Mid-range 1.0 to 2.4
- High for your age 2.5 to 3.9
- Raised 4.0 to 10.0
- High 10.1 or more
- Low Under 1.0
- Mid-range 1.0 to 2.9
- At the action line 3.0 to 3.9
- Raised 4.0 to 10.0
- High 10.1 or more
- Low for your age Under 3.0
- At the action line 3.0 to 3.9
- Raised 4.0 to 10.0
- High 10.1 or more
Enter your result to see what it means and what to do next.
Got a result from another lab? Ask Picardo about it. The app explains your results, and a physician can follow up.
Labcorp’s range runs up to 4.0.8 3 is the line where European guidelines and most screening studies look further,2 and 2.5 is the age-adjusted cutoff for men in their 40s.1 The bar isn’t to scale.
Low: a low risk for years to come
A PSA under 1 points to a low risk of serious prostate cancer for many years.1,2 In a Swedish study, men aged 60 with a PSA under 1 had a 0.5% chance of the cancer spreading, and a 0.2% chance of dying from it, over the next 25 years.1
Nothing to worry about.
- 1 You can wait longer than usual before the next test. US urology guidelines say longer gaps are reasonable at this level, and European guidelines suggest the next test can wait up to 8 years.1,2
- 2 If you’re Black, have a strong family history or carry a gene change such as BRCA2, ask whether you should test more often.1
Mid-range: keep testing regularly
Your result is inside the lab’s range and below the lines where guidelines look further.2,8 It is above the middle for your age, though. Typical PSA is about 0.4 to 0.7 in your 40s and 0.7 to 1 in your 50s, which is why guidelines suggest regular retests rather than long gaps.1,2 In your 40s, 1.6 or more puts you in the top tenth for your age.1
Not a worry. Keep up regular tests.
- 1 Test again in 1 to 4 years, as US urology guidelines suggest at this level.1 European guidelines suggest every 2 years if you’re over 1 at 40 or over 2 at 60.2
- 2 Use the same lab each time, so your results can be compared.2,8
- 3 If you’re Black, have a strong family history or carry a gene change such as BRCA2, ask whether you should test more often.1
Normal on your report, but at the line where many guidelines act
Labcorp won’t flag this, because its range runs up to 4.0.8 But 3 is the line European guidelines and most screening studies use to look further.2 A single result can mislead: between 25% and 40% of new high results are normal on a repeat test.1 If you’re 70 or older, the picture changes. The age-adjusted cutoff in your 70s is about 6.5,1 and the US Preventive Services Task Force advises against routine screening at that age.3
Worth a repeat test in the next month or two. It isn’t urgent.
- 1 Repeat the test first, at the same lab and without ejaculating beforehand. European guidelines suggest about 4 weeks later; US guidelines, within a few months.1,2
- 2 If it’s still 3 or more, European guidelines recommend an MRI of the prostate before deciding on a biopsy.2
- 3 If you’re 70 or older, talk through whether more tests are worth it, given your health and wishes.1,3
Raised: at or above the lab’s upper limit
This is at or above 4.0, the top of Labcorp’s range and the threshold long used in the US.1,8 At this level, cancer is possible but not the likeliest explanation. Labcorp notes that, in 1990s research, about 1 in 4 men with a PSA of 4 to 10 and a normal prostate exam had prostate cancer of any grade found on biopsy.9 Its test adds a free PSA result automatically from 4.0 to 10.0, which helps judge the risk.9
Worth following up in the next few weeks. It isn’t an emergency.
- 1 Repeat the test first, at the same lab and without ejaculating beforehand.2 Between 25% and 40% of new high results are normal on a second test.1
- 2 If it stays high, guidelines favor an MRI of the prostate before any biopsy.1,2
- 3 Look at your free PSA result too. A lower percentage means a higher chance of cancer.9
- 4 If you’re 70 or older, whether to go further depends on your overall health. PSA also runs higher at your age.1
High: see a clinician soon
The higher your PSA, the more likely prostate cancer becomes.2 It still isn’t a diagnosis: a urine infection with a fever, for example, can push PSA above 100.2
See a clinician or urologist in the next couple of weeks, or sooner if you have a fever or can’t pass urine.
Normal on your report, but high for your 40s
Labcorp won’t flag this, because its range runs up to 4.0.8 But PSA rises with age, and the age-adjusted cutoff for men in their 40s is 2.5.1 Typical PSA at your age is about 0.4 to 0.7. In a Swedish study, the tenth of men aged 45 to 49 with the highest PSA, 1.6 or more, went on to account for nearly half of prostate cancer deaths over the next 25 to 30 years.1
Worth following up over the next few months. It isn’t urgent.
- 1 Repeat the test first, at the same lab. In a German trial, nearly half of 45-year-olds with a first PSA of 3 or more were under 3 when it was repeated.7
- 2 If it stays this high, ask a clinician whether an MRI makes sense.1,2
Low for your age
PSA rises with age, and from 70 a result under 3 points to a low risk of dying from prostate cancer.1 In a Dutch study of men aged 70 to 74 who’d been screened before, the chance of dying from prostate cancer by 85 was 0.11% with a PSA under 2, and 0.85% at 2 to 3.1
Nothing to worry about.
- 1 From 75, US urology guidelines say you can stop testing, or test much less often, with a PSA under 3.1
- 2 The US Preventive Services Task Force advises against routine PSA screening from 70.3 US urology guidelines say that if you’re in very good health and expect to live at least 10 more years, testing every 2 to 4 years is still reasonable.1 Decide with your clinician.
What is a normal PSA level?
There’s no single normal PSA. Labcorp’s range runs up to 4.0 ng/mL,8 but PSA rises with age, and European guidelines and most screening studies look further from 3:1,2
Low: a low risk for years to come
A PSA under 1 points to a low risk of serious prostate cancer for many years.1,2 In a Swedish study, men aged 60 with a PSA under 1 had a 0.5% chance of the cancer spreading, and a 0.2% chance of dying from it, over the next 25 years.1
Nothing to worry about.
- 1 You can wait longer than usual before the next test. US urology guidelines say longer gaps are reasonable at this level, and European guidelines suggest the next test can wait up to 8 years.1,2
- 2 If you’re Black, have a strong family history or carry a gene change such as BRCA2, ask whether you should test more often.1
Mid-range: keep testing regularly
Your result is inside the lab’s range and below the lines where guidelines look further.2,8 It is above the middle for your age, though. Typical PSA is about 0.4 to 0.7 in your 40s and 0.7 to 1 in your 50s, which is why guidelines suggest regular retests rather than long gaps.1,2 In your 40s, 1.6 or more puts you in the top tenth for your age.1
Not a worry. Keep up regular tests.
- 1 Test again in 1 to 4 years, as US urology guidelines suggest at this level.1 European guidelines suggest every 2 years if you’re over 1 at 40 or over 2 at 60.2
- 2 Use the same lab each time, so your results can be compared.2,8
- 3 If you’re Black, have a strong family history or carry a gene change such as BRCA2, ask whether you should test more often.1
Normal on your report, but at the line where many guidelines act
Labcorp won’t flag this, because its range runs up to 4.0.8 But 3 is the line European guidelines and most screening studies use to look further.2 A single result can mislead: between 25% and 40% of new high results are normal on a repeat test.1 If you’re 70 or older, the picture changes. The age-adjusted cutoff in your 70s is about 6.5,1 and the US Preventive Services Task Force advises against routine screening at that age.3
Worth a repeat test in the next month or two. It isn’t urgent.
- 1 Repeat the test first, at the same lab and without ejaculating beforehand. European guidelines suggest about 4 weeks later; US guidelines, within a few months.1,2
- 2 If it’s still 3 or more, European guidelines recommend an MRI of the prostate before deciding on a biopsy.2
- 3 If you’re 70 or older, talk through whether more tests are worth it, given your health and wishes.1,3
Raised: at or above the lab’s upper limit
This is at or above 4.0, the top of Labcorp’s range and the threshold long used in the US.1,8 At this level, cancer is possible but not the likeliest explanation. Labcorp notes that, in 1990s research, about 1 in 4 men with a PSA of 4 to 10 and a normal prostate exam had prostate cancer of any grade found on biopsy.9 Its test adds a free PSA result automatically from 4.0 to 10.0, which helps judge the risk.9
Worth following up in the next few weeks. It isn’t an emergency.
- 1 Repeat the test first, at the same lab and without ejaculating beforehand.2 Between 25% and 40% of new high results are normal on a second test.1
- 2 If it stays high, guidelines favor an MRI of the prostate before any biopsy.1,2
- 3 Look at your free PSA result too. A lower percentage means a higher chance of cancer.9
- 4 If you’re 70 or older, whether to go further depends on your overall health. PSA also runs higher at your age.1
High: see a clinician soon
The higher your PSA, the more likely prostate cancer becomes.2 It still isn’t a diagnosis: a urine infection with a fever, for example, can push PSA above 100.2
See a clinician or urologist in the next couple of weeks, or sooner if you have a fever or can’t pass urine.
What is PSA?
Think of PSA as a smoke alarm. A fire sets it off, but so does burnt toast. A high reading tells you it’s worth finding out what set it off, not that something is burning.
PSA, short for prostate-specific antigen, is a protein made by cells in your prostate. Semen holds about a million times more of it than blood does, but a little leaks into your bloodstream, and that’s what the test measures.2,9
PSA is specific to the prostate, but not to cancer. An enlarged prostate, inflammation and infection all raise it.2 Higher levels make cancer more likely, but there’s no level that rules it in or out.2
Does a high PSA mean cancer?
Not on its own. Labcorp notes that, in 1990s research, about 1 in 4 men with a PSA of 4 to 10 ng/mL and a normal prostate exam had prostate cancer of any grade found on biopsy.9
A single result is also noisy. PSA can vary by about 15% from one test to the next in the same man,2 and between 25% and 40% of new high results are back in range when repeated.1 In a German trial of men aged 45 to 55, 38% of first results of 3 or more were under 3 on a repeat test about 4 weeks later.7
That’s why US and European guidelines both say to repeat a new high result before any scan or biopsy.1,2
What raises PSA?
Several things besides cancer raise PSA, some by a lot. Others that people worry about, such as sex and cycling, barely move it.
| Cause | Effect on PSA |
|---|---|
| A urine infection, especially with a fever | Can push it above 100 ng/mL, and it can take up to a year to settle2 |
| Prostatitis (an inflamed prostate) | Raises it. If that’s the only cause, antibiotics bring it down by about 30%8 |
| An enlarged prostate (BPH) | Raises it2,8 |
| A biopsy, cystoscopy or urinary catheter | Raises it for a while. Wait at least 6 weeks after a biopsy1,9 |
| Being unable to pass urine (retention) | Raises it moderately2 |
| Ejaculation | No effect, or a small rise of about 10%1 |
| Cycling | No real change1 |
| A prostate exam | No real change1,2 |
| Finasteride or dutasteride | Lowers it, often by about half after 6 months or more1,2 |
| Low testosterone | Can lower it2 |
Use the same lab for every test. Different labs’ methods give slightly different numbers, so results from two labs can’t be compared directly.2,8
What happens after a high PSA?
Guidelines in the US and Europe follow the same broad path.1,2
- First, a repeat test to confirm the result. European guidelines suggest about 4 weeks later; US guidelines, within a few months. Use the same lab, and don’t ejaculate beforehand or test during a urine infection.1,2
- If it stays high, an MRI of the prostate. European guidelines recommend one for a PSA of 3 to 20 before deciding on a biopsy.2 US guidelines say clinicians may use one first, and rate the evidence behind it as high quality.1
- Sometimes, an extra blood or urine test. Free PSA and newer tests can sharpen the estimate, but they’re only worth doing when the answer would change whether you have a biopsy.1
- A biopsy, if the MRI shows a suspicious area or your risk is still high.1
If your MRI is clear, your PSA is low for the size of your prostate and prostate cancer doesn’t run in your family, European guidelines suggest you can skip the biopsy and keep watching your PSA instead.2
Should you get a PSA test?
It’s a personal choice, best made with a clinician who can talk through the trade-offs.1,3
- US urology guidelines say clinicians may offer a first test between 45 and 50, and should offer one every 2 to 4 years from 50 to 69.1
- They recommend offering it earlier, at 40 to 45, if you’re Black, carry a gene change such as BRCA2 or have a strong family history, such as a father or brother diagnosed before 60 or who died of prostate cancer.1
- European guidelines recommend offering testing from 50, from 45 if a relative had prostate cancer before 60 or you’re of African descent, and from 40 for men with a BRCA2 gene change.2
- The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) calls screening an individual decision from 55 to 69, and advises against it from 70.3 Its advice dates from 2018. An update began in 2023, and no draft has been posted.3,4
The benefit is real but modest. The USPSTF estimated that screening men aged 55 to 69 may prevent about 1.3 prostate cancer deaths per 1,000 men over about 13 years.3 Newer results point the same way. In the European ERSPC trial, which followed 162,236 men aged 55 to 69 for a median of 23 years, screening cut prostate cancer deaths by 13%: one death prevented for every 456 men invited.5 And in May 2026, a Cochrane review that had found no clear benefit in 2013 concluded that screening likely reduces prostate cancer deaths, by about 2 per 1,000 men.6
The harms mostly come after a high result: false alarms that lead to biopsies, and slow-growing cancers that would never have caused trouble. The USPSTF says 20% to 50% of men diagnosed through screening may fall into that second group. Treatment has lasting effects too: about 1 in 5 men who have the prostate removed have long-term leakage, and 2 in 3 have long-term erection problems.3 Repeating a high result and getting an MRI before any biopsy both aim to cut those harms.1,2
How to get a PSA test, and what it costs
A PSA test costs $8.00 through Picardo. The Base Core Annual – Men panel adds 21 more tests from the same visit for $204.25.
Base Core Annual – Men panel
The panel includes this same PSA test and adds testosterone, LH and FSH, a blood count, kidney and liver tests and the heart markers of a yearly checkup, all from one draw.
PSA on its own
Only the number this page is about.
- Results in 2 to 3 days, in the app
- Physician follow-up if you want one
- Free Labcorp draw, or $75 at home
- No other fees. HSA and FSA eligible.
Questions people ask
Can sex or cycling raise your PSA?
Not by much. Most studies find ejaculation has no effect or raises PSA by about 10%, and cycling doesn’t change it in any meaningful way.1 European guidelines still suggest not ejaculating before a repeat test, so the two results are comparable.2
What’s a normal PSA for my age?
There’s no single normal. Typical PSA is about 0.4 to 0.7 ng/mL in your 40s and 0.7 to 1 in your 50s. Age-adjusted cutoffs often used are 2.5 in your 40s, 3.5 in your 50s, 4.5 in your 60s and 6.5 in your 70s.1 Labcorp uses 4.0 at every age.8
Does finasteride affect PSA?
Yes. After 6 months or more, finasteride and dutasteride lower PSA, often by about half, whatever the dose.1,2,8 The drop varies a lot, though. Some clinicians double the result to adjust, but in one trial only about a third of men had a 40% to 60% fall at one year.1 Tell whoever reads your result that you take one.
Should I take antibiotics for a high PSA?
Not unless you have signs of an infection. US urology guidelines advise against antibiotics for a high PSA on its own.1 If prostatitis is the cause, treating it with antibiotics lowers PSA by about 30%.8
Should I stop PSA testing at 70?
It depends on your health. The US Preventive Services Task Force advises against routine screening from 70.3 US urology guidelines suggest deciding case by case. From 75 you can stop if your PSA is under 3, but if you’re very healthy and expect to live at least 10 more years, testing every 2 to 4 years is reasonable.1 European guidelines say men expected to live less than 15 years are unlikely to benefit.2
Often checked alongside
Test details
- Labcorp test
- Prostate-specific Antigen (PSA), Free:Total Ratio Reflex, 480772
- LOINC
- 2857-1
- Sample
- Blood
- Fasting
- Not needed
- Typical lab range
- 0 to 4.0 ng/mL8
- Units
- ng/mL, the same as µg/L
- Before the test
- Labcorp asks for no prostate exam, massage or ultrasound just before the draw, and none within 6 weeks of a biopsy.9
Sources
- 1 Lin DW, Carlsson S, Filson CP, et al. Updates to early detection of prostate cancer: AUA/SUO guideline (2026). J Urol. 2026;215(5):491–501. doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000004995
- 2 Cornford P, Tilki D, van den Bergh RCN, et al. EAU-EANM-ESTRO-ESUR-ISUP-SIOG guidelines on prostate cancer. Limited update March 2026. Arnhem: EAU Guidelines Office; 2026. Accessed October 28, 2026. d56bochluxqnz.cloudfront.net/documents/full-guideline/EAU-EANM-ESTRO-ESUR-ISUP-SIOG-Guidelines-on-Prostate-Cancer-2026_2026-03-14-104356_ixav.pdf
- 3 US Preventive Services Task Force; Grossman DC, Curry SJ, et al. Screening for prostate cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2018;319(18):1901–1913. doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.3710
- 4 US Preventive Services Task Force. Prostate cancer: screening. Update in progress. Last updated December 21, 2023. Accessed October 28, 2026. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/draft-update-summary/prostate-cancer-screening-adults
- 5 Roobol MJ, de Vos II, Månsson M, et al. European Study of Prostate Cancer Screening: 23-year follow-up. N Engl J Med. 2025;393(17):1669–1680. doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2503223
- 6 Franco JV, Hwang EC, Jung JH, et al. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test for prostate cancer screening. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2026;5(5):CD004720. doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004720.pub4
- 7 Krilaviciute A, Becker N, Carlsson SV, et al. Confirmation of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values improves prostate cancer screening in early middle-aged men: data from the PROBASE trial. Eur Urol. Published online July 13, 2026. doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2026.06.016
- 8 Labcorp. Prostate-specific Antigen (PSA), test 010322. Labcorp test menu. Accessed October 28, 2026. www.labcorp.com/tests/010322/prostate-specific-antigen-psa
- 9 Labcorp. Prostate-specific Antigen (PSA), Free:Total Ratio Reflex, test 480772. Labcorp test menu. Accessed October 28, 2026. www.labcorp.com/tests/480772/prostate-specific-antigen-psa-free-total-ratio-reflex
Updated 28 Oct 2026.
This is general health information, not medical advice: talk to your clinician about your results and before changing any treatment.