Advanced Diagnostic Laboratories

Collect

Plain red top or SST tube.

Specimen Preparation

Onsite [NJH]: Transport to lab within 1 hour.
Offsite: Separate serum from cells within 2 hours by centrifuge and aliquot into a labeled polypropylene or similar plastic tube.
Preferred volume: 1 mL serum

Patient Prep

Onsite [NJH]: Transport to lab within 1 hour.
Offsite: Separate serum from cells within 2 hours by centrifuge and aliquot into a labeled polypropylene or similar plastic tube.
Preferred volume: 1 mL serum

Pediatric Collection

Unacceptable Conditions

Grossly hemolyzed specimens

Storage Transport Temp

Offsite: Send frozen serum Priority Overnight via FedEx and in a well insulated container on dry ice.

Stability

Room Temp (15-25°C) – 24 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C) – 48 hours
Frozen (≤ -20°C) – 15 days

Performed

Daily

Methodology

Chemiluminescent Magnetic Immunoassay (CLIA)

Reported

4 hours

Department

Core Lab

Synonyms

PCT

Reference Interval

Procalcitonin Reference Range:  0.00 – 0.07 ng/mL

Interpretation

PCT levels between 0.50 ng/mL and 2.00 ng/mL should be interpreted in the context of the specific clinical background and condition(s) of the individual patient.
PCT Risk Assessment:
<0.50 (low risk of sepsis)
0.50 – 2.00 (sepsis uncertain)
>2.00 (high risk of sepsis)

CPT Code

84145