PSA test

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What you can expect

By Mayo Clinic staff

A PSA test is done by an examination of a blood sample. A nurse or medical technician will use a needle to draw blood from a vein, most likely a vein in your arm. The site on your arm may be tender for a few hours, but you'll be able to resume most normal activities after the sample is taken.

References
  1. Screening for prostate cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2008;149:185.
  2. Overview: Prostate cancer. How many men get prostate cancer? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_2_1X_How_many_men_get_prostate_cancer_36.asp?sitearea=. Accessed Feb. 16, 2009.
  3. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test: Questions and answers. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/detection/PSA. Accessed Feb. 12, 2009.
  4. What You Need to Know About Prostate Cancer. Rockville, Md.: National Cancer Institute; 2008.
  5. Can prostate cancer be found early? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_3x_can_prostate_cancer_be_found_early_36.asp. Accessed Feb. 12, 2009.
  6. Lin K, et al. Benefits and harms of prostate-specific antigen screening for prostate cancer: An evidence update for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2008;149:192.
  7. Prostate cancer: Screening. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate/basic_info/screening.htm. Accessed Feb. 15, 2009.
  8. Ferrini R, et al. Screening for prostate cancer in American men: American College of Preventive Medicine Practice Policy Statement. American College of Preventive Medicine. http://www.acpm.org/prostate.htm. Accessed Feb. 15, 2009.
  9. Early detection of prostate cancer. American Urological Association. http://www.auanet.org/content/guidelines-and-quality-care/policy-statements/e/early-detection-of-prostate-cancer.cfm. Accessed Feb. 16, 2009.
  10. Andriole GL, et al. Mortality results from a randomized prostate-cancer screening trial. New England Journal of Medicine. 2009;360:1310.
  11. Schroder FH, et al. Screening and prostate-cancer mortality in a randomized European study. New England Journal of Medicine. 2009;360:1320.
  12. Carroll P, et al. Prostate-specific antigen best practice statement: 2009 update. American Urological Association. http://www.auanet.org/content/guidelines-and-quality-care/clinical-guidelines/main-reports/psa09.pdf. Accessed April 28, 2009.

MY00180

May 13, 2009

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