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The PSA test price in Kenya ranges from KES 1,500 to as high as KES 49,300 and the choice is dependent on individual preference. In Kenya, the PSA test is offered as an individual test or as a package with other tests and imaging services. Impact-Site-Verification: c3e4f724-e70a-4b11-9d9a-a189f3427856
PSA test blood sample
The test is not a normal routine test done in most laboratories across Kenya. However, with increasing cases of prostate cancer and awareness, most facilities offer this test either as an individual test or as a wellness package that comprises other useful tests like Kidney function tests, liver function tests, lipid profile, and other routine tests like full blood count and urinalysis.
What is a PSA test?
The PSA test (prostate-specific antigen test) is done as an early screening test for prostate cancer. The prostate gland has a tissue that is both cancerous and non-cancerous. This tissue produces the PSA which circulates freely in high quantities in Semen and small amounts in blood.
The PSA test is done using serum from blood collected through venipuncture. The normal PSA levels are 1.0ng/ml to 4.0 ng/ml. The PSA test checks for PSA velocity, density and percentage of free PSA.
High levels of PSA indicate prostate cancer or enlarged prostate which in most cases causes increased levels of PSA.
According to the National Cancer Screening Guide of 2018, there has to be a high index of prostate cancer symptoms such as:
- Increased frequency and nocturia.
- Difficulty in starting or stopping the urine flow
- Inability to urinate
- Weak
- Decreased or interrupted urine stream
- A sense of incompletely emptying the bladder
- Burning or pain during urination (dysuria)
- Post-micturition dribbling
- Increased or reduced urgency in urinating
- Blood in the urine or semen to comprehensively diagnose prostate cancer.
The PSA test is normally accompanied by a prostate biopsy (either transrectal or trans perineal), or MRI to accurately diagnose prostate cancer.
In the next section we explore the price of PSA test in Kenya across various hospitals and facilities.
PSA Test Price in Kenya and hospitals offering the test
The choice of whether to go for an individual test or a package is dependent on each person in terms of affordability, and accessibility.
PSA test price in Kenya for wellness packages:
- The Nairobi Women’s Hospital. Their package goes for KES 10,900 and is inclusive of the prostrate micro-ultrasound.
- Penda Health has different wellness packages ranging from KES 7,500 to KES 14,500. They have branches across major estates in Nairobi County.
- Stratus Medical Imaging Solutions Limited in Parklands Nairobi, offers this test in a package going for KES 49,251. The package includes imaging, phosphate tests, thyroid function tests, and other routine tests.
PSA test price in Kenya for individual tests:
- Metropolis Star Lab Africa which is CAP and NABL certified offers the test for KES 3,190. Their test is done using the 8-stage MET protocol. Also, they offer this test as a Wellman package going for KES 26,901 inclusive of tests such as Vitamin B12, D, and rheumatoid factor.
- The University of Nairobi Medical School laboratory, a partner of the Kenyatta National Hospital, charges KES 1,500 for the test.
- The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kisumu offers this test for KES 2,500.
- Cerba Lancet laboratory charges KES 3,249 for the PSA test and it takes about 4 hours to complete.
Prostate Specific Antigen test limitations on accuracy and diagnosis
- Apart from Prostate cancer, other conditions raise PSA levels in the body such as prostatitis, and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This could result in false positive results. This in turn means that there is a need for more tests to rule out these infections and come up with an accurate diagnosis, a fact that is expensive for the patient.
- Certain drugs e.g. those used in chemotherapy, treatment of urinary infections, and even BPH and conditions like obesity lower PSA levels. This could result in false negative results.
- Leaning only PSA levels without considering symptoms and other supplemental test results can lead to overdiagnosis or underdiagnosis for prostate cancer.
- There are other associated risks with supplemental tests such as pain, bleeding, and infection during a biopsy and even anxiety especially if results are false positive.
Conclusion
PSA test is done as an early screening test for prostate cancer and it measures PSA velocity, density, and percentage of free PSA. The PSA test in Kenya is offered as an individual test or as a package with other tests and imaging services. The cost ranges from KES 1500 to as high as KES 49300 and the choice is dependent on individual preference. The PSA test must be supplemented with other tests and symptoms to accurately diagnose prostate cancer. We have also seen how the PSA test is limited in terms of accuracy.
