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PROCALCITONIN
Test Code164750
Alias/See Also
PCT
CPT Codes
84145
Preferred Specimen
"Serum or plasma
1 mL
"
1 mL
"
Minimum Volume
"0.4 mL (Note: This volume does not allow for repeat testing.)
"
"
Instructions
"Separate serum or plasma from cells and transfer to a plastic transport tube before freezing. To avoid delays in turnaround time when requesting multiple tests on frozen samples, please submit separate frozen specimens for each test requested
"
"
Transport Container
"Red-top tube or green-top (lithium heparin)
"
"
Transport Temperature
Frozen
Specimen Stability
Freeze
Methodology
"Enzyme-linked fluorescent assay (ELFA) "
Clinical Significance
"Procalcitonin (PCT) is the prohormone of calcitonin. Whereas calcitonin is only produced in the C cells of the thyroid gland as a result of hormonal stimulus, PCT is secreted by different types of cells from numerous organs in response to proinflammatory stimulation, particularly bacterial stimulation.
Depending on the clinical background, a PCT concentration >0.1 ng/mL can indicate clinically relevant bacterial infection requiring antibiotic treatment. At a PCT concentration >0.5 ng/mL, a patient should be considered at risk of developing severe sepsis or septic shock. Sepsis is an excessive reaction of the immune system and coagulation system to an infection.
It has been proven that PCT levels increase precociously, specifically in patients with a bacterial infection. For laboratory diagnosis, PCT is, therefore, an important marker enabling specific differentiation between a bacterial infection and other causes of inflammatory reactions. Moreover, the resorption of the septic infection is accompanied by a decrease in the PCT concentration, which returns to normal with a half-life of 24 hours.
In certain situations (newborns, polytrauma, burns, major surgery, prolonged or severe cardiogenic shock, etc), PCT elevation may be independent of any infectious aggression. The return to normal values is usually rapid. Viral infections, allergies, autoimmune diseases, and graft rejection do not lead to a significant increase in PCT. A localized bacterial infection can lead to a moderate increase in PCT levels.
"
Depending on the clinical background, a PCT concentration >0.1 ng/mL can indicate clinically relevant bacterial infection requiring antibiotic treatment. At a PCT concentration >0.5 ng/mL, a patient should be considered at risk of developing severe sepsis or septic shock. Sepsis is an excessive reaction of the immune system and coagulation system to an infection.
It has been proven that PCT levels increase precociously, specifically in patients with a bacterial infection. For laboratory diagnosis, PCT is, therefore, an important marker enabling specific differentiation between a bacterial infection and other causes of inflammatory reactions. Moreover, the resorption of the septic infection is accompanied by a decrease in the PCT concentration, which returns to normal with a half-life of 24 hours.
In certain situations (newborns, polytrauma, burns, major surgery, prolonged or severe cardiogenic shock, etc), PCT elevation may be independent of any infectious aggression. The return to normal values is usually rapid. Viral infections, allergies, autoimmune diseases, and graft rejection do not lead to a significant increase in PCT. A localized bacterial infection can lead to a moderate increase in PCT levels.
"
