What causes a high Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)?

Q: What causes a high Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)?

Common causes of a high Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA): Prostate cancer; Benign prostatic hyperplasia; Prostatitis; Recent ejaculation, catheterization, or DRE.

Q: What is the normal range for Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)?

The standard teaching reference range for Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) is < 4.0 (age-dependent) ng/mL in conventional units, or < 4.0 µg/L in SI units. This value is measured in serum. Reference ranges vary by laboratory, method, age, sex, and population - always use the range printed on the actual result.

Normal range < 4.0 (age-dependent) ng/mL (< 4.0 µg/L SI). Specimen: Serum. See the full Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) reference page for critical values and nursing considerations.

Above the range

Common causes of a high Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)

Prostate cancer
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Prostatitis
Recent ejaculation, catheterization, or DRE

Looking for the other direction? See what causes a low Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA).

What is the normal range for Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)?

The standard teaching reference range for Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) is < 4.0 (age-dependent) ng/mL in conventional units, or < 4.0 µg/L in SI units. This value is measured in serum.

Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) reference range and specimen details
Specimen	Serum
Conventional range	< 4.0 (age-dependent) ng/mL
SI range	< 4.0 µg/L
Panel	Tumor Markers

Full details, including nursing considerations, on the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) normal range page. Reference ranges vary by laboratory, method, age, sex, and population - always use the range printed on the actual result.

Same panel

More Tumor Markers tests

Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP)< 10 (nonpregnant adult) ng/mL Beta-hCG (Tumor Marker)< 5 (nonpregnant) mIU/mL CA 15-3< 30 U/mL CA 19-9< 37 U/mL CA-125< 35 U/mL Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA)< 3.0 nonsmoker (< 5.0 smoker) ng/mL