| |
Path:
Home>Shopping
Center>Home
Test Kits>Lead Paint Testing>Biosafe
Prostate PSA Home Test Kit
Biosafe Prostate PSA Home Test Kit
The
BIOSAFE Prostate Screen is a laboratory blood test that measures a
chemical protein substance produced by the Prostate gland called
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). Small amounts of this substance can be
measured in the bloodstream by the Prostate screen. Certain conditions
of the Prostate may raise the level of PSA in the blood and, while
elevated levels of PSA are not harmful, they are an important signal of
possible Prostate disease. The BIOSAFE Prostate Screen provides you with
an accurate, convenient, and inexpensive way to discover you own PSA
level. Testing for PSA provides important information, which can be used
as an aid to early detection and treatment of Prostate disease.
The specimen collection process is quick, easy and virtually painless.
Using the special lancet included in the BIOSAFE Blood Collection Kit, a
couple of drops of blood are taken from a nick of a finger and deposited
onto a special collection card. The card is then sent to BIOSAFE
Laboratories for analysis. BIOSAFE tests your blood sample to see how
much PSA is present and then mails the results back to you in an
easy-to-read, understandable report. Click here to view a
Prostate PSA
Sample Lab Report.
Since the BIOSAFE Prostate PSA test produces a numerical result
rather than a simple "yes" or "no" answer, both testing approval and
professional review of test results are required by a licensed
physician. After your test analysis is completed by BIOSAFE
Laboratories, the results will be reviewed by a licensed health
professional
before being sent back to you.
Testing Procedure
General Information
- The Prostate Gland
- The Prostate gland is part
of the male reproductive system. It is about the size of a
walnut and is located in front of the rectum and just below
the bladder. The Prostate gland produces the liquid part of
semen, which transports sperm.
- Prostate Cancer and PSA
- Prostate cancer is the
second most common cancer found in men in the United States.
It occurs in about 1 out of 10 men during their lifetime.
Prostate cancer is more common in older men and is the
second leading cause of cancer death in American men. The
BIOSAFE PSA blood test is a laboratory procedure that
measures a substance produced by the Prostate gland called
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). Small amounts of this
substance may get into the bloodstream and can be measured
by the PSA test. Certain conditions of the Prostate may
raise the level of PSA in the blood. Although high levels of
PSA are not harmful, they are an important signal of
possible Prostate disease. Note: Prostate cancer can
be cured - if diagnosed early!
- Recommended Ages for Testing
- Since the risk for Prostate
cancer increases with age, the American Urological
Association recommends all men, 40 and over, with a family
history of Prostate Cancer have an annual screening
comprised of a PSA test and a Digital REctal Exam (DRE). All
men, 50 and over, should have an annual screening comprised
of a PSA test and a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE). African
American men have been shown to have a statistically higher
risk of Prostate disease and therefore should begin testing
at age 40. In general, medical experts recommended that all
males should have an annual PSA test once they reach the age
of 40. Men in high-risk groups, such as African Americans
and those with blood relatives who have had Prostate cancer,
should begin testing even earlier and consult with their
health care professional for advice on more frequent
testing. Annual PSA testing can be an important aid in the
early detection of Prostate cancer.
Test Levels
| |
Normal
Reference Range |
Above Normal
Range |
|
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) |
0.0 ng/dl to 2.5 ng/dl |
> 2.5 ng/dl |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the Types of Prostate
Tests?
- During your annual
examination, your health care professional will probably
perform another Prostate test called a digital rectal exam (DRE).
This test will provide additional, important information
about the overall health of your Prostate. The BIOSAFE PSA
test, along with a DRE, is the best way to check for
possible Prostate problems. But please keep in mind; an
elevated PSA result, or an enlarged Prostate, does not
necessarily mean that you have Prostate cancer.
- Should I Have Both a PSA Test and
a DRE?
- A BIOSAFE PSA and a DRE are
more effective in detecting Prostate cancer when they are
done together than when either test is taken alone. Be
aware, however, that it is still possible for some Prostate
cancers to be missed because they are too small to raise the
PSA blood level or to be felt during a DRE. Since early
detection is your single best defense against this deadly
disease, always consult with your health care professional.
- What Exactly is Cancer?
- Cancer is really a group of
diseases. There are many different types of cancer, one of
which is cancer of the Prostate gland. Normal human cells
divide and grow in an orderly way; this helps to keep the
body in good repair. Sometimes these normal cells begin to
divide too rapidly. This uncontrolled cell growth forms a
mass, or tumor. Tumors may sometimes cause pain, but usually
don't when they are small. Some tumors are "benign," which
means they are not cancerous, do not spread to other parts
of the body, and are usually not life-threatening. Cancerous
tumors are called "malignant". They can invade nearby
tissues and organs. Cancer cells can spread, or
"metastasize," throughout the body and form new tumors. This
is why it is important to find a malignant tumor as early as
possible, when the cancer may be most treatable.
- What Do the PSA Test Results Mean?
- Using BIOSAFE PSA, a result
of less than 2.5 ng/mL is considered statistically normal.
Results greater than 3 ng/mL are statistically elevated.
However, many men with a PSA level greater than 2.5 ng/mL do
not have Prostate cancer. Likewise, a PSA value under 2.5 ng/mL
does not rule out the possibility of cancer. If the results
of the blood test are higher than 2.5 ng/mL, other medical
procedures, including biopsy, are required before your
health care professional can determine whether or not you
have Prostate cancer. Note: Your health care
professional will be able to interpret the results of the
PSA test and DRE to determine whether additional testing
should be done.
- If My PSA is Elevated, Are Other
Tests Needed?
- If your PSA level is above
normal, and/or if your DRE reveals an area of hardness in
the Prostate, your health care professional may recommend
that you have an ultrasound scan of the Prostate along with
a biopsy. In an ultrasound scan, sound waves are sent into
the body and are used to take "pictures" of the Prostate
gland. These pictures help your health care professional
locate suspicious areas of the Prostate. These areas may
contain cancer and should be biopsied. Biopsy involves the
removal of a small amount of tissue from the Prostate.
Examination of the biopsied tissue under a microscope is the
only way to be certain of the presence of Prostate cancer.
- What Other Conditions May Cause a
High PSA Level?
- There are several conditions
other than Prostate cancer that can cause the level of PSA
in the blood stream to rise. The most common condition is
enlargement of the Prostate gland, called benign prostatic
hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is very common in men over 50 years
of age and may cause difficulty with urination. About 4 out
of 5 men eventually develop enlarged Prostates. BPH is not
cancer, nor is there evidence that it leads to cancer.
Infection or inflammation of the Prostate gland is called
Prostatitis. This condition may also cause higher than
normal PSA levels.
Laboratory Accuracy
-
BIOSAFE Prostate PSA Home Test Kit dry
blood sample analysis is as accurate as serum blood analysis with a
tested 98% correlation.
-
Samples are analyzed in a CLIA certified
Laboratory. The U.S. Congress passed the Clinical Laboratory
Improvement Amendments (CLIA) in 1988 establishing quality standards
for all laboratory testing to ensure the accuracy, reliability and
timeliness of patient test results regardless of where the test was
performed. The objective of the CLIA program is to ensure quality
laboratory testing. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
(CMS) is charged with the implementation of CLIA.
-
BIOSAFE Laboratories are also accredited
by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), the highest national
standard in the U.S..
Features
-
Prostate
Specific Antigen (PSA) testing is an effective aid in the
early detection of Prostate disease. According to the
Prostate Cancer Foundation, over 232,000 men are diagnosed
with Prostate Cancer each year.
-
This test allows
you to cost effectively establish a baseline PSA level and monitor your
levels over time for changes that may indicate a problem.
-
Lab report
features TestTracker™ which compares previous test results
on one test report to chart your progress.
-
Measures the
amount of Prostate Specific Antigen in the blood.
-
Test is easy to
perform yourself in the privacy of your home or office.
-
U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) approved test kit for direct
consumer use.
-
Test kit
includes a laboratory authorization form, privacy practices
statement, blood collection card, blood sample return bag,
easy to understand instructions, alcohol prep, gauze pad, 2
lancets, adhesive bandage and a U.S. postage paid return mail
envelope.
-
Test analyzed by
a Certified Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)
Laboratory and is accredited through the College of American
Pathologists (CAP). Lab test results are reviewed by a
licensed health professional before being sent back to you.
-
Lab Report
mailed directly to your home usually within 3 business days
of receiving the sample. Click here to view
Prostate PSA
Sample Lab Report.
-
No Additional
Test Fees - test kit pricing includes all sample collection
materials, U.S. postage paid return envelope for the sample,
laboratory analysis and mailed lab results.
- Prostate Home Test
-
- Price:
$37.95
Click
Here to go
to the main Personal Health Testing shopping page
|
|