Home Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Test
What is home PSA test?
Did you know that prostate cancer for a lot of men goes undiagnosed, and is discovered in an autopsy after death due to other causes? Can you believe it?! Around 15% of men around the world suffer from prostate cancer. To treat prostate cancer effectively it is important to diagnose it early. This allows early treatment which increases the likelihood of the cancer being stopped in its tracks before spreading to other parts of the body. So what better way than having access to a home PSA test?
A home PSA test allows one to carry out the test whenever they are free to do so in the comforts of their own home. The home PSA test measures the amount of the PSA in the blood; PSA is released by cells in the prostate gland. Normally small amounts of PSA exist in the blood. A significantly high level may suggest that you may have prostate cancer or other issues associated with the prostate gland.
What can a PSA test tell me?
Various issues with the prostate could be associated with higher than normal levels of the PSA such as (1):
- Prostate cancer
- Enlarged prostate
- Prostatitis
But one must remember that a raised PSA level may not be related to issues with the prostate, but it could be due to other issues in the body. So it is important that the results of a home PSA test are confirmed by other medical tests carried out under your family doctor’s guidance.
This is because although the levels of PSA could be an accurate marker for the detection of prostate cancer, its levels don’t always correlate with the presence of prostate cancer.
Nonetheless, if you do have a raised PSA level, then you are likely to have prostate cancer if you meet the following criteria (1):
- Have someone in your family who has prostate cancer
- Dark colored
- Older age (50 or more)
Who should make a home PSA test?
If you meet the following criteria (1):
- Prostate cancer runs in your family (genetic testing)
- Trouble urinating and doing it often
- Dark colored
- Aged over 50
Then it is recommended to own and carry out the home PSA test to be safe. Also, if you have symptoms that are possibly related to a potential prostate problem, then doing the home PSA test might be useful for you. Most doctors consider PSA levels of 4 ng/mL and lower as normal (2).
Home PSA test accuracy
The PSA test is not 100% accurate (1) for detection of prostate related problems, because several other factors such as (1):
- Ejaculation
- Intense exercise
- Urine infection
Can contribute to higher than normal levels of the PSA antigen. Also, not all men with normal levels of the PSA are free from prostate related problems, and not all men with higher than normal levels of the PSA have prostate related problems.
So the home PSA test needs to be supported by medical tests carried out at the hospital if you are having symptoms that indicate you may have a prostate related issue.
Different home PSA tests
There are many home PSA tests that you can buy. Below are some of the available tests on the market:
Prostate Test Kit Home Testing PSA Cancer Screening Test Tumor Markers
This home PSA test is produced and supplied by Qingdao Hightop Biotech. The following are some of its features:
- Each piece costs $0.75-0.9 USD
- The read time is within 15-30 minutes
- It has a cassette format
- The test is valid for up to 24 months
20 tests per box
New design home psa test FDA cleared CE mark
This home PSA test is produced and supplied by Suzhoa Wanmuchun Biotechnology. The following are some of its features:
- Each piece costs $0.224-0.344 USD
- The read time is stated as rapid (not clear).
- It has a strip/cassette format
- The test is valid for up to 24-36 months
- 2500 (cassette) or 5000 (strip) tests per box
Medical diagnostic one step PSA Home rapid test
This home PSA test is produced and supplied by Nantong Voyage International. The following are some of its features:
- Each piece costs $0.23-0.44 USD
- The read time is within 10-20 minutes
- It has a strip/cassette format
- The test is valid for up to 24 months
- 2000 (cassette) or 5000 (strip) tests per box
Collodial gold PSA Prostate Specific Antigen Qualititive test
This home PSA test is produced and supplied by Goldenmed Biomedical. The following are some of its features:
- Each piece costs $0.15-0.22 USD
- The read time is within 10-15 minutes
- It has a strip/cassette format
- The test is valid for up to 24 months
- 2000 (cassette) or 5000 (strip) tests per box
2017 Home Use High Accuracy 99% Sensitivity One Step Home Use PSA Rapid Test With CE
This home PSA test is produced and supplied by Blue Cross Bio-Medical. The following are some of its features:
- Each piece costs $0.03-0.5 USD
- The read time is within 10-15 minutes
- It has a strip/cassette format
- The test is valid for up to 24 months
- Does not state how many tests per box
Medical diagnostic one step psa home rapid test
This home PSA test is produced and supplied by Blue Cross Bio-Medical. The following are some of its features:
- Each piece costs $0.2-0.4 USD
- The read time is within 15 minutes
- It has a cassette format
- The test is valid for up to 24-36 months
- 2000 tests per box
All the home PSA tests give the same final outcome; the measurement of the levels of the PSA. What test you choose doesn’t matter, all that matters is you have the home PSA test to help protect you from a potentially serious health problem.
Home PSA tests suppliers
There are a wide number of suppliers of home PSA tests including:
- Nantong Voyage International
- Gemc Technology
- Suzhoa Wanmuchun Biotechnology
- Qingdao Hightop Biotech
- YIYE Biotechnology
- Blue Cross Bio-Medical
- Goldenmed Biomedical
- Innovation Biotech
- PRIMA lab
- Yangzhou Goldmed import & export
Conclusion
If you are predisposed to developing prostate cancer then why not have the PSA test at your discretion at home to make a quick short test that could potentially save your life. There are various home PSA tests that basically all aim to achieve the same job. What you choose depends on you. It is a simple test to do, cheap, and could save your life…so what are you waiting for?