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Test Code PRCAL Procalcitonin, Serum


Specimen Required


Supplies: Sarstedt Aliquot Tube, 5 mL (T914)

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Specimen Volume: 0.6 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Serum gel tubes should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.

2. Red-top tubes should be centrifuged and the serum aliquoted into a plastic vial within 2 hours of collection.


Useful For

Monitoring antibiotic therapy and all-cause mortality for patients diagnosed with severe sepsis or septic shock in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or when obtained in the emergency department or other medical wards prior to ICU admission

Method Name

Electrochemiluminescence

Reporting Name

Procalcitonin, S

Specimen Type

Serum

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Frozen (preferred) 90 days
  Refrigerated  48 hours
  Ambient  24 hours

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia OK

Clinical Information

Procalcitonin (PCT) is a biomarker associated with the inflammatory response to bacterial infection and aids in the risk assessment of critically ill patients on their first day of admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), or when obtained in the emergency department or other medical wards prior to ICU admission, for progression to severe sepsis and septic shock. The percent change in PCT level over time aids in the prediction of cumulative 28-day mortality in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock.

 

A PCT level that declines 80% or less from the day that severe sepsis or septic shock was clinically diagnosed (day 0) to 4 days after clinical diagnosis (day 4) is associated with higher cumulative 28-day risk of all-cause mortality than a decline above 80%.

 

The PCT level on day 1 (the day after severe sepsis or septic shock is first clinically diagnosed) can be used to calculate the percent change in PCT level at day 4 if the day 0 measurement is unavailable.

Reference Values

0.00-0.24 ng/mL

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Sunday

Report Available

Same day/1 to 2 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information

84145