Procalcitonin

Code:
PCT

Sample Type:

Serum (Gold Top)

Minimum volume: 1 mL

Ref Ranges/Units:

0.0 – 0.5 μg/L

<0.25 μg/L bacterial respiratory infection unlikely

>0.25 μg/L bacterial infection possible

If you require clinical interpretation, please contact the on-call clinical microbiologist.

Turnaround:

Same Day (60 minutes from receipt for Urgent Samples).

Stability:

24 hours at 20‑25 °C 
48 hours at 2‑8 °C 
13 months at ‑20 °C 
Freeze only once. 

Special Precautions/Comments:

Additional Information:

Procalcitonin is elevated in bacterial sepsis, particularly in severe sepsis or in septic shock. It can be used as a prognostic marker to predict outcomes in sepsis patients.  

Procalcitonin is also used to guide and monitor the use of antibiotic treatment in community-acquired respiratory tract infections or ventilator induced pneumonia. 

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