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HelpTest Code PROCLT Procalcitonin, LAB2677
Performing Laboratory
St. Luke's Hospital Cedar Rapids
Specimen Requirements
Container/Tube:
Preferred: Green-top lithium heparin tube
Acceptable: Gold-top serum gel tube or plain red-top tube, EDTA plasma (see Note)
Minimum Volume: 18 uL plus dead volume
Stability: Stable for 24 hours at room temperature, refrigerate up to 48 hours. For prolonged storage, freeze samples up to 12 months.
Reference Values
|
PCT Level |
Interpretation |
|
≤ 0.50 ng/mL |
Systemic infection (sepsis) is not likely. Local bacterial infection is possible. |
|
> 0.51 to ≤ 2.00 ng/mL |
Systemic infection (sepsis) is possible, but other conditions are known to elevate PCT as well. |
|
> 2.00 ng/mL |
Systemic infection (sepsis) is likely, unless other causes are known. |
|
≥ 10.00 ng/mL |
Important systemic inflammatory response, almost exclusively due to severe bacterial sepsis or septic shock. |
Early (<6 hours) or localized infections may not show significant procalcitonin elevations. Elevations in procalcitonin may be seen in settings other than bacterial infection, including major trauma or surgery, severe burns, and sever/prolonged cardiogenic shock or organ hypoperfusion.
Neonates <2 ng/mL at birth, rises to ≤20 ng/mL at 18 to 30 hours, then falls to adult level by 72 hours.
Day(s) Test Set Up
Monday through Sunday
Useful For
Procalcitonin is useful in the detection of bacterial infections as well as in determining the risk of severe sepsis in patients.
Methodology
Sandwich Electrochemiluminesence
Test Classification and CPT Coding
84145
Report Available
STAT within 1 hour of receipt
Routine within 2 hours of receipt