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HelpTest Code PROCAL Procalcitonin, Plasma or Serum
Performing Laboratory
Lima Memorial Health System Laboratory
Specimen Requirements
Preferred:
Container/Tube: Green cap-yellow ring Top (Lithium Heparin Gel) tube
Minimum Volume: 1.0 mL
Collection Instructions: Centrifuge within 2 hours.
Also Acceptable:
Container/Tube: Plain, Red Top or Serum gel (SST-Gel) tube
Reference Values
Levels 0.60-2.00 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.
| Patients with Suspected Sepsis | |
|---|---|
| 0.10-0.49 ng/ml | Low likelihood of sepsis/antibiotics discouraged |
| 0.50-1.00 ng/ml | Increased likelihood of sepsis/antibiotics encouraged |
| >1.00 ng/ml | High risk of sepsis/antibiotics strongly encouraged |
| Patients with Suspected Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (LRTI) | |
|---|---|
| 0.10-0.24 ng/ml | Low likelihood of bacterial infection/antibiotics discouraged |
| 0.25-0.49 ng/ml | Increased likelihood of bacterial infection/antibiotics encouraged |
| >0.50 ng/ml | High risk of bacterial infection/antibiotics strongly encouraged |
Specimen Stability
Ambient: 8 hours
Refrigerate: 48 hours
Frozen: aliquot for longer storage
Day(s) Test Set Up
Monday through Sunday
Methodology
Chemiluminescent Immunoassay
Test Classification and CPT Coding
84144