Men's Health Testing in November

Author Dr Kate Garside

Men's Health Testing in November: Stocking PSA and Male Fertility Tests

Every November, moustaches start sprouting on upper lips up and down the country, and with them comes a noticeable rise in men asking questions about their health. Movember has done a brilliant job of getting men to talk about prostate cancer, and those conversations often begin at a pharmacy counter or in a clinic rather than at the GP surgery.

For a lot of men, a quick, private chat with a pharmacist feels far easier than booking an appointment. That makes the next few weeks a really useful time to have the right tests on your shelves, and the right advice ready to go with them.

In this guide I'll cover the three men's health tests we'd suggest stocking ahead of November: the ALLTEST PSA rapid tests, and the ALLTEST SP10 sperm test. I'll also go through how to talk to customers about their results, which matters just as much as the test itself.

Why it pays to plan your men's health stock now

Movember runs for the whole of November, and International Men's Day falls on 19 November. Between press coverage, social media campaigns and workplace health days, it's one of the busiest months of the year for men's health enquiries.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, and it has been back in the headlines this year. In May 2026 the UK National Screening Committee confirmed its recommendation for the UK's first targeted prostate cancer screening programme. It covers a fairly small group of men: those aged 45 to 61 who carry a BRCA2 gene variant and have a family history of breast, ovarian, pancreatic or prostate cancer. The committee did not recommend screening for all men.

In practice, that means most men will still only have a PSA test if they ask for one. Many of them will ask you first.

Order early: Our home PSA test is manufactured to order, so if you're planning a November display or promotion, get your order in as soon as you can. Our trade team can give you current lead times.

ALLTEST PSA rapid tests from £3

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a protein made by the prostate gland. A raised level in the blood can be linked with prostate cancer, but it's also common with benign prostatic hyperplasia (an enlarged prostate) and prostatitis.

ALLTEST make two versions of their PSA rapid test, and both give a result in around five minutes. They are CE marked and MHRA registered, and you'll find both options on our ALLTEST PSA test kits page, alongside the rest of our ALLTEST range.

	Home PSA test (TPS-NQ402H)	Professional PSA test (TPS-402)
Who it's for	Self-testing, suitable for OTC sale	Healthcare professionals only
Sample	Fingerprick blood	Fingerprick or venous whole blood, serum or plasma
Result	Positive or negative at a 4 ng/mL cut-off	Estimated range: below 3, 3 to 10, or above 10 ng/mL
Accuracy	99.2% compared with CLIA clinical samples	99.1% compared with ELISA
Time to result	Around 5 minutes	Around 5 minutes
Pack size	1 test	10 tests (lancets not included)
Wholesale price	£3.00 per test	£25.00 per box of 10

Prices are correct at the time of writing.

Choosing the right PSA test for your setting

Community pharmacies and retailers will usually find the home version the better fit. It's a single boxed test with a straightforward positive or negative result at 4 ng/mL, so customers can take it home, or you can run it with them in your consultation room.

Clinics, private GP services and occupational health teams tend to prefer the professional TPS-402. Its reference line lets a trained user estimate whether PSA sits below 3 ng/mL, between 3 and 10 ng/mL or above 10 ng/mL, which is more helpful when you're deciding how quickly someone needs to be seen. Lancets aren't included in the professional pack, so make sure you have some in stock.

If you run workplace health checks, November is a natural time to offer a men's health session. Our occupational health supplies page has more ideas for those kinds of events.

A rapid PSA result is a reason to see a GP, not a diagnosis

ADTUK was founded by UK doctors and is still run by them today, so this is the part of the post we feel most strongly about. Rapid tests are a great way to get men thinking about their prostate health, but only when the person handing them over is clear about what the result can and can't tell you.

Why a positive result isn't a diagnosis

PSA can rise for lots of reasons that have nothing to do with cancer, including:

• An enlarged prostate, which becomes very common as men get older
• Prostatitis or a urine infection
• Ejaculating or doing vigorous exercise, especially cycling, in the 48 hours before the test
• A recent prostate examination or procedure

Most men with a raised PSA level do not turn out to have prostate cancer. The GP will usually repeat the test with a laboratory blood sample and refer for further investigations if they're needed.

Why a negative result isn't an all-clear

A result below the cut-off is reassuring, but it doesn't rule prostate cancer out. Some men with prostate cancer have a PSA level in the normal range, so anyone with symptoms should see their GP whatever the test says. Symptoms to listen out for include:

• Needing to pee more often, especially at night
• Difficulty starting to pee, or a weak flow
• Feeling that the bladder hasn't emptied properly
• Blood in the urine or semen

Men who should talk to their GP regardless

Some men are at higher risk and should discuss PSA testing with their GP even if a rapid test is negative. This includes men over 50, Black men, men whose father or brother has had prostate cancer, and men with a known BRCA2 gene variant or a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer.

What to say at the counter: "This test isn't a diagnosis. It's telling us your PSA might be higher than we'd expect, and there are lots of reasons that can happen, most of which aren't cancer. The best next step is to book an appointment with your GP. They can repeat the test in a lab and talk you through what it means."

Share a short script like this with your whole team, including weekend and locum staff, so every customer hears the same message.

Male fertility testing: SP10 

Movember isn't only about prostates. Fertility is something a lot of men worry about quietly, and male factors play a part in a large share of couples' difficulties conceiving. A discreet home test can be the first step towards a conversation many men have been putting off for months.

The ALLTEST SP10 male fertility test detects SP-10, a protein found in sperm, to show whether sperm concentration is above 15 million per mL. It's a complete boxed home test (OSP-902H) with a specimen cup, semen transfer device, solutions and instructions included, and ALLTEST quotes 98.2% overall accuracy. At £4.00 per test it's an easy product to stock in volume, and it's an unrestricted OTC line.

 

 

	ALLTEST SP10
What it measures	Sperm concentration, using the SP-10 sperm protein
Positive result means	Above 15 million sperm per mL
Tests per pack	1
Good for	An affordable first check at a low retail price
Wholesale price	£4.00 per test

Responsible use for home sperm tests

Home sperm tests are a helpful first check, but they only look at one or two parts of the picture. They don't assess sperm shape, semen volume or the other measures a full laboratory semen analysis covers. When you sell them, it helps to explain:

• A positive result doesn't guarantee fertility. It means the sample was above the test's threshold, not that everything else is normal.
• A negative result isn't a diagnosis of infertility. Sperm counts can vary a lot from one sample to the next, so a single low result is worth repeating and discussing with a GP.
• Follow the instructions closely. Each kit explains how long to avoid ejaculation before testing, and getting this wrong can affect the result.
• Changes take time. Sperm take around three months to develop, so the benefits of stopping smoking, cutting back on alcohol or losing weight won't show straight away.

Couples who have been trying for a year without success should see their GP, or sooner if the woman is 36 or over or there's a known reason for concern.

Getting your counter ready for Movember

• Order early. Aim to have stock in by the start of November so you're ready for the first week of campaigns.
• Brief your team. Share the counter script above and make sure everyone knows to signpost customers to their GP.
• Think about privacy. Keep tests near the consultation room rather than on an open shelf, so men can ask without an audience.
• Add signposting. A small card pointing to the NHS website or Prostate Cancer UK next to each test makes a real difference.
• Round out the range. Men's health days often include a cholesterol and blood sugar check, so take a look at our cholesterol meters and glucose meters, along with chlamydia and gonorrhoea tests for sexual health. Our full range of home health test kits is worth a browse too.

Why stock men's health tests from ADTUK

• Founded and run by UK doctors since 1998, with every wholesale product doctor tested and approved. Read more about us.
• UK stock held in Norfolk, with orders placed before 3pm Monday to Thursday usually dispatched the same day.
• Free UK delivery when you spend over £1,500 (excluding VAT).
• A friendly UK trade team on 01263 731 168 (9am to 5pm, weekdays) or trade@adtuk.co.uk.

Frequently asked questions

Can pharmacies sell the home PSA test over the counter?
Yes. The home version (TPS-NQ402H) is CE marked for self-testing. The professional TPS-402 is intended for use by healthcare professionals only.

Is a rapid PSA test the same as a lab PSA test?
No. A rapid test gives a positive or negative result (home version) or an estimated range (professional version). A laboratory test gives an exact PSA level, and that's what a GP will use to decide on next steps.

Should customers avoid anything before a PSA test?
Yes. Ejaculation and vigorous exercise in the 48 hours beforehand can raise PSA, and so can a urine infection. If someone has an infection, it's better to wait until it has cleared before testing.

Can a home sperm test tell a man he's infertile?
No. SP10 is a screening test. A low result is a reason to repeat the test and speak to a GP, who can arrange a full semen analysis.

How early should we order for November?
As early as possible. The home PSA test is manufactured to order, so contact our trade team for current lead times.

This article is written for pharmacies, clinics and other healthcare retailers and is for general information only. Rapid tests are screening tools and do not replace clinical assessment, laboratory testing or advice from a GP. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions supplied with each test.