| Test Name: | Prostatic Specific Antigen, Total (PSA) |
| Epic Order Code: | LAB116 |
| CPT Code: | 84153 | | |
| Specimen(s) Type: | Serum; 1.0 mL |
| Acceptable Container(s): |   Tops are gold and red. |
| Testing Schedule: | Monday-Friday |
| Turn Around Time: | STAT: NA |
| | Routine: 1-3 days |
| Collection Information: | No special patient preparation is required. Obtain specimen by standard collection procedures. |
| Transport Information: | Deliver to lab immediately. All specimens must be signed into the laboratory. |
| Reference Clients: | If unable to deliver to the lab within 1 hour, centrifuge the specimen and remove serum from the red cells. Store and transport at 2-8° C. Specimen must be received in the lab within 24 hours. If longer storage is required, store and transport the sample at -20° C for up to 30 days. |
| Causes for Rejection: | Improperly labeled, incorrect container, contaminated, insufficient quantity, incorrect/delay in transport, gross hemolysis. |
| Reference Range: | < 4.00 ng/mL | | |
| Additional Information: | Hormonal therapy may affect PSA expression; therefore, a low PSA level after any treatment that includes hormonal therapy may not adequately reflect the presence of residual or recurrent disease. |
| | Active free PSA in the serum at the time of blood sampling can continue to complex with serum protease inhibitors, especially alpha-2-macroglobulin, resulting in a rapid decrease in PSA levels of the active form of free PSA. |