Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)

We offer all our patients the new 10 minute Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test. This means we can carry out the test and discuss your results during a single visit to our clinic

The Birmingham Prostate Clinic is one of the first in the UK to introduce the 10-minute PSA test.

This enables patients to receive their results in a consultation with a urologist within a single visit to our clinic.

Blood samples are inserted into a hand-held device which displays the results on a screen just 10 minutes later.

Analysis has shown that this new technology, called PSAwatch, is as accurate as standard laboratory tests.

However, sending blood samples to a laboratory means patients often wait days or weeks for their results, because they have to make a second appointment with their urologist in order to discuss their results.

Benefits

Alan Doherty, clinical director of The Birmingham Prostate Clinic comments: “The biggest benefit of this new development is it enables the patient to discuss his results with the consultant immediately.

“Instead of sending patients home, often feeling very anxious about their results before returning to clinic days or weeks later, we can offer them an almost instant response.

“That may be to reassure them that they are not at risk of prostate cancer, or we may need to arrange for further tests to take place. In either scenario, we are able to eradicate that period of anxiously waiting.”

What is PSA?

PSA stands for Prostate Specific Antigen, a protein made by the prostate which naturally leaks into the bloodstream when the prostate is damaged.

A simple blood test can be taken to measure levels of PSA and a high reading indicates prostate cancer may be present.

However, a raised PSA can also be caused by a non life-threatening condition called an enlarged Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH).

“Risk of prostate cancer is assessed by taking a number of different factors into account as well as PSA level,” says Mr Doherty.

“We consider the patient’s age, family history, previous PSA tests and carry out an examination of his prostate.

“PSA results are notoriously difficult to interpret and it is important for patients to receive their PSA results during a consultation with a doctor, who is able to explain what the results mean and discuss what steps should be taken.

“Combined with the new PCA3 test, we now have some very powerful new diagnostic tools for prostate cancer.”

A raised PSA result is not a diagnosis of prostate cancer but an indication that the patient may be at risk and require further investigations.

Both the PCA3 test and PSAwatch have been produced by Mediwatch, based in Rugby, Warwickshire.

The 10-minute PSA test is not currently available in NHS hospitals and is only offered in a small number of private clinics.

Regular tests

The Birmingham Prostate Clinic advises men over the age of 50 to have regular PSA measurements and keep a record of these readings.

We offer patients a PSA record card to keep this information, enabling urologists to see how the PSA is behaving over a period of time.

Further tests will be undertaken including a digital rectal examination of the prostate and prostate volume measurement (using ultrasound).

The Birmingham Prostate Clinic was one of the first centres in the UK to offer the PCA3 test which provides a more accurate assessment of prostate cancer risk than the PSA.

By considering the Prostate Specific Antigen test, along with the PCA3 test and assessments such as transrectal ultrasound and digital rectal examination (DRE), our urologists are best placed to decide whether a biopsy for prostate cancer is necessary.