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Test Code LAB10458 Procalcitonin

Specimen Requirement

Lithium Heparin Plasma or Serum

 

PST Tubes and SST Tubes acceptable – remove from gel immediately after centrifugation

Do not add to specimen stored in a PST or SST gel tube

Specimen Stability

24 hours at 20-25° C

2 days at 2-8° C

15 days at -20° C

Testing Schedule

Daily

Reference Range

< 0.07 ng/mL

Interpretation

Procalcitonin should always be interpreted in the clinical context of the patient; results should be considered in conjunction with other laboratory findings and clinical signs of the patient.

 

Respiratory Tract Infection – Outpatient

  • PCT: ≤ 0.25 ng/mL – Starting antibiotics not recommended
  • PCT: >0.25 ng/mL – Start antibiotics; complete course as directed.  Outpatient follow up as appropriate

Respiratory Tract Infection – Inpatient

  • PCT: ≤0.25 ng/mL – Starting antibiotics not recommended; recheck PCT after 6-24 hours
  • Consider stopping antibiotics if started
  • PCT: >0.25 ng/mL – Start empiric antibiotics; repeat PCT every 2-3 days
  • Consider stopping antibiotics when PCT ≤ 0.25 ng/mL or decreases >80% from peak if initial PCT >0.5 ng/mL

Sepsis

  • PCT Baseline: Empiric antibiotics recommended in all patients with clinical suspicion of infection; check PCT daily
  • PCT: ≤ 0.5 ng/mL or a decrease >80% from peak – Consider stopping antibiotics if patient is clinically stable

Note: Baseline PCT values may be elevated in CKD (CrCl <30 ml/min); please see full protocol on AltruLink (Physicians => Forms & Tools => Antimicrobial Stewardship) for recommendations.

Testing Department

Chemistry

Method

Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay (CMIA)

CPT Code

84145