0020763
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Procalcitonin

PCT
Example Reports
High
In Range

Ordering Recommendation

Use to assess risk of progression to severe sepsis and septic shock in critically ill patients upon admission to ICU. Use in conjunction with other laboratory findings.

Methodology

Immunoassay

Performed

Sun-Sat

Reported

Within 24 hours

New York DOH Approval Status

This test is New York DOH approved.

Specimen Required

Patient Preparation

The same specimen type (serum, plasma) should be used throughout the patient's clinical course.

Collect

Plasma Separator Tube (PST) or Serum Separator Tube (SST).

Specimen Preparation

Allow serum to sit for 15-20 minutes for proper clot formation and to ensure the absence of fibrin in the serum which can interfere with this assay. Separate from cells ASAP or within 2 hours of collection. Transfer 2 mL serum or plasma to an ARUP Standard Transport Tube. (Min: 0.3 mL)

Storage/Transport Temperature

Refrigerated.

Unacceptable Conditions

Specimens collected in citrate anticoagulant.

Remarks
Stability

After separation from cells: Ambient: 24 hours; Refrigerated: 5 days; Frozen: 15 days

Reference Interval

Less than 0.07 ng/mL

Interpretive Data

A correction has been applied to optimize cutoffs established for the BRAHMS PCT sensitive KRYPTOR assay.

Procalcitonin > 2.00 ng/mL: Procalcitonin levels above 2.00 ng/mL on the first day of ICU admission represent a high risk for progression to severe sepsis and/or septic shock.

Procalcitonin < 0.50 ng/mL: Procalcitonin levels below 0.50 ng/mL on the first day of ICU admission represent a low risk for progression to severe sepsis and/or septic shock.

If the procalcitonin measurement is performed shortly after the systemic infection process has started (usually less than 6 hours), these values may still be low. As various non-infectious conditions are known to induce procalcitonin as well, procalcitonin levels between 0.50 ng/mL and 2.00 ng/mL should be reviewed carefully to take into account the specific clinical background and condition(s) of the individual patient.

Compliance Category

FDA

Note

Procalcitonin levels below 0.50 ng/mL do not exclude an infection, because localized infections (without systemic signs) may also be associated with such low levels.

Hotline History

N/A

CPT Codes

84145

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Components

Component Test Code* Component Chart Name LOINC
0020764 Procalcitonin 33959-8
* Component test codes cannot be used to order tests. The information provided here is not sufficient for interface builds; for a complete test mix, please click the sidebar link to access the Interface Map.

Aliases

  • antibiotic adequacy
  • PCT
  • Procalcitonin Sepsis Biomarker
  • ProCT
Procalcitonin