Procalcitonin
Test code
CPT code(s)*
Test resources
Test FAQ
Details
Methodology
Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA)
Alternative name(s)
PCT,Sepsis Procalcitonin,Sepsis PCT
Specimen requirements | |
|---|---|
| Patient preparation | None Specified |
| Preferred specimen(s) | 2 mL serum |
| Alternative specimen(s) | Plasma collected in: EDTA (lavender-top) tube, sodium heparin (green-top) tube, or lithium heparin (green-top) tube • Serum collected in: Serum separator tube (SST) |
| Minimum volume | 0.5 mL |
| Collection instructions | Allow blood (red-top) to fully coagulate at room temperature. Within 1 hour of collection, centrifuge serum at 2000 rpm for 10 minutes. Immediately transfer serum into a clean plastic screw-capped vial and refrigerate. |
| Transport container | Transport tube |
| Transport temperature | Refrigerated (cold packs) |
| Specimen stability | Room temperature: Unacceptable Refrigerated: 5 days Frozen: 28 days |
Reference Range(s)
| Procalcitonin | <0.10 ng/mL |
Neonate Reference Ranges
| Ages in hours | PCT (ng/mL) |
| At birth | <2.00 |
| 18-20 hours | <20.00 |
| 48 hours | <5.00 |
Reference ranges are provided as general guidance only. To interpret test results use the reference range in the laboratory report.
*The CPT codes provided are based on AMA guidance and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payer being billed.
This material contains content from LOINC® (http://loinc.org). The LOINC Table, LOINC Table Core are copyright © 1995-2019, Regenstrief Institute, Inc. and the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) Committee and is available at no cost under the license at http://loinc.org/license.
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