AT-HOME prostate cancer tests have come under scrutiny following an investigation in the UK, which found the kits can produce inconsistent and inaccurate results. The tests, which function similarly to Covid lateral flow tests, detect high levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in blood samples. However, experts have raised concerns about their reliability and the lack of professional medical interpretation.
In an analysis of five different rapid tests, the BBC found significant discrepancies. One test failed to produce a result, three gave negative readings, and one incorrectly indicated a high PSA level. All tests were conducted using the same blood sample. Prostate Cancer UK has since voiced serious concerns over the sale of these tests, warning that they may provide false reassurance or cause unnecessary alarm.
Unlike breast, bowel, and cervical cancer, prostate cancer does not have a national screening programme in the UK. Instead, men over 50, or those over 45 in higher-risk groups, must proactively request a PSA blood test from their GP. NHS tests, which are processed in laboratories, offer a more precise measure of PSA levels, which can rise due to factors other than cancer, such as infections or recent physical activity.
The findings have raised questions about the growing availability of at-home testing kits. The investigation found that these tests, which range in price from £6 to £95, are widely sold online and in some high street pharmacies. The kits fall into two categories: those requiring a sample to be sent to a laboratory and rapid tests that deliver results within minutes. However, the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) states that over-the-counter PSA tests are not reliable indicators of prostate cancer and should not claim to detect the disease.
Medical professionals have also highlighted the difficulty of using these kits correctly. The process involves pricking the skin, collecting blood in a pipette, mixing it with a reagent, and placing it into a test cassette. BBC testing found that results varied even when performed correctly, with one kit producing a false positive reading when a laboratory test on the same sample showed a much lower PSA level.
Prostate Cancer UK has called for clearer NHS guidelines on PSA testing and greater awareness among men about their options for prostate health screening. The government has tasked the UK National Screening Committee with reviewing current evidence on prostate cancer testing, with a response expected later this year.
Prostate cancer researchers stressed that NHS tests provide a far more detailed and accurate assessment. “A home test may indicate whether PSA is above a certain level, but it doesn’t give the full picture. A PSA reading of 4.0 and one of 400 would require very different medical responses.”
Critics argue that outdated guidelines and a lack of proactive NHS testing contribute to the rise of home testing. Campaigners are calling for greater access to PSA testing for higher-risk groups. The Department of Health has pledged to review the current system as part of its National Cancer Plan, aiming to improve early diagnosis and treatment outcomes for prostate cancer patients.
Reference
Reed J. Warning over rapid at-home prostate tests. 2025. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgl00gn15y8o. Last accessed: 06 March 2025.
