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Test Code PCT PROCALCITONIN

Important Note

Useful for:

Diagnosis of bacteremia and septicemia in adults and children

Diagnosis of renal involvement in urinary tract infection in children

Diagnosis of bacterial infection in neutropenic patients

Diagnosis, risk stratification, and monitoring of septic shock

Diagnosis of systemic secondary infection post-surgery, and 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

Additional Codes

LAB3309

Performing Location

Porter Hospital Laboratory

Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Blood
Container/Tube: Green top (Lithium Heparin)
Specimen Volume: Full tube, submit 0.5 mL serum
Specimen Minimum Volume: 0.3 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Send specimen in original tube.
2. If there is a delay in transport of >1 hour, centrifuge tube.

3. Centrifuged samples are stable for:
• 48 hours refrigerated (2–8ºC)  or freeze plasma for up to 6 months

Specimen Transport Temperature

Refrigerate

Test Classification and CPT Coding

84145

Test Schedule / Analytical Time / Test Priority / Turn Around Time

Daily / Available STAT / Routine - 4 Hours

                                         STAT - 60 Minutes

Test Schedule / Analytical Time / Test Priority / Turn Around Time

Daily / Available STAT / Routine - 4 Hours

                                        STAT - 60 Minutes

Methodology

Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay (ELFA) technique

Normal Reference Values

Concentration < 0.5 ng/mL represents a low risk of severe sepsis and/or septic shock.

 

Concentration > 2 ng/mL represents a high risk of severe sepsis and/or septic shock.

 

Concentrations < 0.5 ng/mL do not exclude an infection, on account of localized infections (without systemic signs) which can be associated with such low concentrations, or a systemic infection in its initial stages (< 6 hours).

 

Furthermore, increased procalcitonin can occur without infection. PCT concentrations between 0.5 and 2.0 ng/mL should be interpreted taking into account the patient’s history.

 

It is recommended to retest PCT within 6-24 hours if any concentrations < 2 ng/mL are obtained.