What is a psa test used for, and at what age would it be helpful to do a psa test?

Prostate cancer: Psa: prostate specific antigen. This is usually a blood test, separated into "free psa" and total psa. The ratio is separated into age specific groups, with an associated predictive value of prostate cancer. Most of the time, in asymptomatic men, psa is not measured routinely until age 50. Then it is based on a baseline level, prostate size, and whether there are symptoms of enlargement.

Prostate test: Prostate specific antigen...A protein produced by prostate, both normal (benign) and cancerous, tissue. Studies found that men with prostate cancer will produce higher levels of psa, thus the basis of the psa blood test for prostate cancer screening. Most organizations recommend screening to begin around the age of 40-50, earlier for those men at high risk (african-american, family history).

Controversial: Psa was designed to be a screen for prostate cancer and to follow the course of disease. However, there are differences in opinion among experts on its usefulness. According to the traditional teaching, initial testing should be done at the age of 40 and repeated periodically, e.g. Yearly. The us agency on prevention does not recommend using psa for cancer screening.

Still confusing...: Since its discovery in 1970, the clinical significance from its wide spread use has been conflicting and confusing as noted in its very discoverer's outcrying: i don't believe my discovery has been misused and abused for professional /industrial profit-making. ...If we can put it in good use, we can saved billions of healthcare dollars and as well, we can prevent millions of men from unnecessary..

PSA : Prostate specific antigen is a simple blood test which has widely been used to screen men for further testing (prostate biopsy) for prostate cancer. Despite controversy about its use, it currently remains the only readily available, practical means of selecting men for biopsy. The real controversy should be which men with a positive biopsy should receive treatment.