Procalcitonin




Test Mnemonic

PROCAL

CPT Codes

  • 84145 - QTY (1)

LOINC ®

33959-8

Performing Laboratory

n/a


Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
1 mLSerumSST (Gold) Frozenaliquot specimen into CCL aliquot tube

Alternate Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
1 mLPlasmaLithium heparin PST (Lt. Green) Refrigerated 
1 mLPlasmaLithium heparin (Green) Refrigerated 

Minimum Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
0.5 mL     

Stability

Environmental Condition Description
Ambient24 hours
Refrigerated48 hours
Frozen12 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< 0.09ng/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.