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Procalcitonin
MessagePerforming Lab: Hudson, Regions, Westfields, Lakeview
Test Code
4720
Alias/See Also
Sunquest: PRCAL; PCT
CPT Codes
84145
Includes
Procalcitonin; Procalcitonin Intrepatation Chart
Preferred Specimen
1.0 mL Lithium Heparin Plasma (light green-top) tube
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Transport Temperature
Refrigerated
Specimen Stability
Refrigerated: 48 hours
Frozen: 6 months
Frozen: 6 months
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Gross Hemolysis
Methodology
Enzyme-Linked Fluorescent Immunoassay (ELFA)
FDA Status
Approved
Setup Schedule
Daily
Report Available
Same day
Limitations
The assay results should be utilized in conjunction with other clinical and laboratory data to assist the clinician in making individual patient management decisions.
Reference Range
= 3 Days: <0.05 ng/mL
Contact laboratory for reference ranges <3 Days
Contact laboratory for reference ranges <3 Days
Clinical Significance
Procalcitonin (PCT) helps differentiate bacterial from viral infections, the early detection of an elevated PCT level in patients with suspected bacterial infections enabling earlier antibiotic treatment. PCT also supports informed decisions on when to continue or stop antibiotics, improving patient care and decreasing antibiotic misuse and resistance.
