Order Your Own PSA Blood Test with My Lab ReQuest™

The decision to order a PSA screening is an individual decision that should be made with the consultation of your medical provider. Various factors, including your family history and your desire to undergo a screening, should be weighed alongside the potential benefits and harms of a screening. If you have made the decision to move forward with a PSA screening, My Lab ReQuest allows you to order your screening directly without a doctor’s order or the need for insurance.

You can place your order, pay for your screening, and schedule your appointment all online. Visit any of our 70 Patient Service Centers across Arizona to complete your screening. Test results are generally available within just a few days and can be accessed online using our secure results portal.

Why Order Your Own PSA Screen (Prostate Specific Antigen) with My Lab ReQuest?

Since the passage of the law in 2015 that allows for consumers in Arizona to order their own lab tests, thousands of patients have used our My Lab ReQuest service to take charge of their health and make more informed healthcare decisions. Our PSA Screen (Prostate Specific Antigen) is just one of a complete range of general health screening and monitoring tests that we offer to patients to check their health status. 

Patients choose Sonora Quest Laboratories to meet their lab testing needs for a wide range of reasons, including:

Award-Winning Quality

As the nation's largest integrated laboratory system, Sonora Quest Laboratories delivers award-winning quality services every day to more than 23,000 patients across Arizona. We are the #1 bioscience company in Arizona, according to Ranking Arizona, and we are also the only healthcare company to even win the Arizona Governor's Award for Quality. Most importantly, we are accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), the organization whose accreditation ensures the highest standard of care for laboratory patients.

Convenient Locations

Schedule an appointment or walk in to any of our 70 Patient Service Centers located across Arizona! We have over 45 locations in Metro Phoenix, 14 locations in Tucson and Southern Arizona, and various other locations across Northern and Western Arizona. Moreover, several of our locations are conveniently located inside of Safeway markets so that you can plan your screening around your trip to your neighborhood grocery store.

Learn More about Prostate Cancer and the PSA Test

What is prostate cancer? 

Prostate cancer is a form of uncontrolled cell growth that begins in the prostate gland. Prostate cancer may at times spread rapidly, but there are also cases in which the cancer will spread more slowly. There are no currently known causes of prostate cancer, but age does seem to be a factor. Most prostate cancer cases appear in men over age 55, and the average age at diagnosis is 70.

Behind skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. 13 out of every 100 men in the United States will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime, and 2 to 3 men will die from the disease, according to the CDC. In 2015, the last year for which data is available, 183,529 total cases of prostate cancer were reported in the United States and 28,848 men died from the disease.

Who is at risk for prostate cancer?

Although age is the most common risk factor for prostate cancer, African-American men and men with a family history of prostate cancer are at a greater risk for the disease. African-American men are more likely to get prostate cancer, get prostate cancer at a younger age, and to have a more severe type of prostate cancer than other men. A family history of prostate cancer, meaning a father, son, or brother has been diagnosed with the disease, is also associated with a greater risk of developing prostate cancer. If multiple family members or close relatives have had prostate cancer, it may indicate a type of prostate cancer that has been inherited.

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer may not necessarily present any symptoms. However, according to the CDC, some of the most common symptoms of prostate cancer are:

• Difficulty urinating
  
  
• Weak or interrupted flow of urine
  
  
• Frequent urination
  
  
• Difficulty emptying the bladder
  
  
• Pain or burning during urination
  
  
• Blood in the urine or semen
  
  
• Pain in the back, hips, or pelvis that won’t go away
  
  
• Painful ejaculation

Please remember that these symptoms are not necessarily indicative of prostate cancer and may be a result of another disease or condition. Always contact your medical provider to discuss the symptoms you are experiencing and to be evaluated.

Who should get tested?

In the most recent statement from the US Preventive Services Task Force, the current recommendation is that men between the ages of 55 to 69 discuss the potential benefits and harms of a PSA screening with their doctors. When discussing a PSA screening with your doctor, be sure to share any relevant information such a family history when discussing the appropriateness of a PSA screening. Ultimately, an individual decision can then be made as to whether or not a PSA screening should be performed.

What do PSA test results mean?

According to the National Cancer Institute, there is no specific level of PSA in the blood that is considered normal or abnormal. In the past, PSA levels below 4.0 ng/mL were considered normal and levels above 4.0 ng/mL were considered abnormal. However, recent research has challenged this belief. This is due to the fact that PSA levels may fluctuate over time. Still, a higher PSA level, or a continuous rise in PSA levels, is generally a sign that prostate cancer may be present. 

Please note that to ensure your PSA reading is as accurate as possible, the Prostate Cancer Foundation has recommendations about steps to take for a more accurate reading, and also what information to share with your doctor to ensure that he or she is able to more accurately interpret your results.

How is prostate cancer diagnosed?

The first step in screening and diagnosis for prostate cancer is a PSA test. If the results from this test are abnormal, a doctor may recommend additional testing to check for prostate cancer.

The most common test for diagnosing prostate cancer is a biopsy. In a biopsy, tissue is removed from the prostate to determine whether or not there are cancerous cells. A doctor may use additional tools such as a transrectal ultrasound or MRI to help guide the biopsy.

Once prostate cancer has been diagnosed, additional testing will be done to check if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. This helps to inform doctors as to the current stage of the cancer and will also guide treatment decisions.

Treatment options for prostate cancer

After a prostate cancer diagnosis, you and your doctor can develop a treatment plan that takes into account your tumor, your age, your health, and your personal desires. According to the CDC, some of the most common treatment methods are:

• Active Surveillance – monitoring the prostate cancer through testing and treating the cancer only if it grows or causes symptoms
  
  
• Surgery – an operation to remove prostate and the surrounding tissue
  
  
• Radiation Therapy – external or internal radiation therapy that directly targets cancerous cells

In addition to these treatments, the following therapies are still under investigation:

• Cryotherapy
  
  
• Chemotherapy
  
  
• Biological therapy
  
  
• High-intensity focused ultrasound
  
  
• Hormone therapy

Resources

For additional information, resources, and news on prostate cancer, visit the CDC and Prostate Cancer Foundation websites. The National Cancer Institute also has additional information on current research, resources for people who have been diagnosed with cancer, and in-depth information on available treatment options for prostate cancer.

The fight against prostate cancer doesn’t have to be fought alone. The Prostate Cancer Foundation recommends several national organizations for men diagnosed with prostate cancer that can help to connect you to local support groups in your community.