Skip to main content

Procalcitonin

CPT/HCPCS 84145
Order Code CH173
Turnaround Time 24-48 hours
Test Includes

Procalcitonin

Specimen Requirements
Specimen Source
Serum, Plasma
Transport Container
(Specimen Container)

SST (Tiger Top), Alternative Specimen(s):
Plasma collected in EDTA (lavender top) tube, sodium heparin (green-top) tube, or lithium heparin (green-top) tube

Preferred Specimens
Serum
Minimum Volume (uL)
0.5 mL
Collection Instructions
(Transport Temperature)
Transport Refrigerated (cold packs)
Specimen Stability
Temperature Period
Room temperature Unacceptable
Refrigerated 5 days
Frozen 28 days
Special 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 Refrigerated.

Test Details
Methodology
Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA)_x000D_
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.

Reference Ranges

Procalcitonin <0.10 ng/mL
Neonate Reference Ranges

Ages in hours PCT (ng/mL)
<2.00 (At birth)
<20.00 (18-20 hours)
<5.00 (48 hours)