A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z # |
Procalcitonin
Test Code16265
CPT Codes
84145
Preferred Specimen
2 mL serum
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
Plasma collected in: EDTA (lavender-top) tube, sodium heparin (green-top) tube, or lithium heparin (green-top) tube
Instructions
Allow blood (red-top) to fully coagulate at room temperature. Within 1 hour of collection, centrifuge serum at 2000 rpm for 10 minutes. Immediately transfer serum into a clean plastic screw-capped vial and refrigerate.
Transport Container
Plastic screw-cap vial
Transport Temperature
Refrigerated (cold packs)
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 5 days
Frozen: 28 days
Refrigerated: 5 days
Frozen: 28 days
Methodology
Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA)
Setup Schedule
Set up: Sun-Fri; Report available: 1-2 days
Reference Range
Procalcitonin | <0.10 ng/mL |
Neonate Reference Ranges
Ages in hours | PCT (ng/mL) |
At birth | <2.00 |
18-20 hours | <20.00 |
48 hours | <5.00 |
Clinical Significance
Used in the diagnosis of bacteremia and septicemia in adults and children (including neonates), renal involvement in urinary tract infection in children, bacterial infection in neutropenic patients, and in the diagnosis, risk stratification, and monitoring of septic shock, systemic secondary infection post-surgery, as well as in severe trauma, burns, and multiorgan failure. Differential diagnosis of bacterial versus viral meningitis. Differential diagnosis of community-acquired bacterial versus viral pneumonia. Monitoring of therapeutic response to antibacterial therapy.
Performing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute
14225 Newbrook Drive
Chantilly, VA 20153