Specimen Requirements

Title

Procalcitonin

Specimen Requirement

Collect red top or lavender EDTA, centrifuge and transfer 2.0 mL serum/plasma to a screw top plastic vial within 1 hour of collection. Indicate sample type on plastic vial and send refrigerated.

Methodology

Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA)

Stability

Room temp: Unacceptable, Refrigerated: 5 days, Frozen: 28 days

Reference Range

The reference range is determined by the performing laboratory and will show on the report.

Turnaround

3-4 days performed Sunday-Friday

Clinical Use

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.

Test Code

PRCAL