PSA, Free and Total

Includes Total PSA, Free PSA, % Free PSA (calculated)

Preferred Specimen(s) 2 mL serum

Instructions Non-frozen specimens must be received in the laboratory within 24 hours

Transport Container Plastic screw-cap vial

Transport Temperature

  • Ambient 24 hrs,
  • Refrigerated 24 hrs

Reject Criteria

  • Gross hemolysis
  • Gross lipemia

Methodology Chemiluminescence

Clinical Significance In men over age 50 years with total PSA between 4.0 and 10.0 ng/mL and those with prostate cancer tend to have lower % free PSA than those with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), although there is considerable overlap in results for the two populations. % free PSA may aid in avoiding unnecessary biopsies in these circumstances.