Procalcitonin
Test Mnemonic
PROCAL
CPT Codes
- 84145 - QTY (1)
LOINC ®
33959-8
Performing Laboratory
Cleveland Clinic Laboratories
Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | Serum | SST (Gold) | Frozen | aliquot specimen into CCL aliquot tube |
Alternate Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | Plasma | Lithium heparin PST (Lt. Green) | Refrigerated | ||
| 1 mL | Plasma | Lithium heparin (Green) | Refrigerated |
Minimum Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 mL |
Stability
| Environmental Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| Ambient | 24 hours |
| Refrigerated | 48 hours |
| Frozen | 12 months |
Days Performed
Sun - Sat
Turnaround Time
8 hours
Methodology
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Electro Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (ECLIA) |
Reference Range
| Procalcitonin | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sex | Age From | Age To | Type | Range | Range Unit |
| Normal | < 0.09 | ng/mL |
Special Info
Clinical Info
Used as an aid in the diagnosis and management of severe sepsis and septic shock. Based on studies in ICU patients, procalcitonin levels > 2.00 ng/mL represent an elevated risk of severe sepsis and/or septic shock, while levels <0.50 ng/mL represent a low risk of severe sepsis and/or septic shock. However, levels < 0.50 ng/mL do not exclude infection, as localized infections or systemic infections in early stages (<6 hours) can be associated with low concentrations. Levels between 0.50 and 2.00 ng/mL should be interpreted in the clinical context of the patient, as a variety of non-infectious conditions such as burns, trauma, surgery, and severe cardiogenic shock can cause procalcitonin elevations.