Procalcitonin (PCT)*
Performing Laboratory
Rutland Regional Medical Center Laboratory
Specimen Requirements
Specimen Type:
Container/Tube:
Preferred: Light-green top (lithium heparin gel)
Specimen Fill Volume: Whole tube.
Specimen Minimum Volume: 1 mL
Day(s) Performed
Daily
Analytical Time:
1 hour from specimen arrival
Methodology
Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay
Test Classification and CPT Coding
CPT: 84145
Order Code: RMCPROCALC
Result Name / Result Code / Result LOINC:
PCT / RMCL802093 / 33959-8
PCT Interp / RMCL802316 /
Normal Reference Values
PCT Concentration
|
PCT Interpretations
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Risk or Options for Further Action
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PCT ≤ 0.5 ng/ml
|
Low risk for progression to severe systemic infection (severe sepsis/septic shock). Local bacterial infection is possible.
|
CAUTION: PCT levels below 0.5 ng/ml do not exclude an infection, because localized infections may be associated with such low levels. If PCT is measured very early after a bacterial challenge (usually <6 hours), these values may still be low. In this case, PCT should be re-assessed 6-24 hours later.
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PCT > 0.5 and ≤ 2 ng/ml
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Moderate risk for progression to severe systemic infection (severe sepsis/septic shock), but other conditions are known to elevate PCT as well
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The patient should be closely monitored both clinically and by re-assessing PCT within 6-24 hours.
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PCT > 2 ng/ml and < 10 ng/ml
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High risk for progression to severe systemic infection (severe sepsis/septic shock) unless other causes are known
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Systemic infection (sepsis) is likely, unless other causes are known.
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PCT ≥ 10 ng/ml
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High likelihood of severe sepsis or septic shock
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Important systemic inflammatory response, almost exclusively due to severe bacterial sepsis or septic shock.
|
Specimen Transport Temperature
Refrigerated
Critical Values
None