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HELPFUL LINKS!

 

LAB COMMUNICATIONS 

 

COLLECTION & HANDLING

 

SPECIMEN TRANSPORTATION

Please call 616.774.7721 for specimen pick up

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

GENERAL TEST INFORMATION

 

BILLING

 

WEBSITES

Mayo Clinic Laboratories

Epic Code LAB3318 Procalcitonin

Important Note

Test cannot be ordered as an add-on

Test Name Alias

PCT

Interface Order Alias

11633

Specimen Requirements

Specimen Collection: Blood

 

Container(s): 

  • CH West (Grand Rapids, West Michigan): 4.5 mL Mint Green Top (Lithium Heparin Gel)
  • CH South (St. Joseph, Niles, Watervliet): 4.5 mL Mint Green Top (Lithium Heparin Gel) or 5.0 mL Gold Top SST

Preferred Volume to Collect: full tube

Minimum Volume to Collect: 2.0 mL

 

Collection Instructions:

  • After collection, gently invert tube 8-10 times.
  • Specimen should be processed within 2 hours – See Processing Instructions.

 

Processing Instructions (Laboratory, Outpatient or Off-site collection)

  • Processed Specimen: Plasma
  • Centrifuge/Spin: Yes
  • Aliquot: Yes
  • Processing Instructions:
    • Minimum plasma volume: 1.0 mL (0.5 mL plasma for neonate)
    • Green Tube/Plasma: Centrifuge after collection.
    • Gold Tube/Serum (CHS ONLY): Allow blood to clot for 30 minutes in a vertical position and centrifuge within 2 hours. 
  • Transport Temperature: Refrigerated

Specimen Transport Temperature

Refrigerated

Specimen Stability

Ambient: 8 hours

Refrigerate: 48 hours

Frozen: Aliquot plasma for longer storage

Laboratory Retention: 72 hours

Test Frequency

Available 24 hours a day with results available within 2–4 hours.

Reference Range

Reference Range: 

CHW CHS
≤0.25 ng/mL <0.09 ng/mL

 

Interpretive comments:

<0.05 ng/mL = Negative
Between 0.05 - 0.25 ng/mL = Low, bacterial infection is possible but unlikely.
Between 0.25 and 0.50 ng/mL = Intermediate; bacterial infection is likely.
>0.50 ng/mL = High; bacterial infection is very likely.

 

If using as an aid in deciding on whether or not to discontinue antibiotics for suspected/confirmed sepsis, providers should use the following guidance: 

  • - PCT ≤ 0.50 ng/mL or > 80% decrease from peak/baseline value 
    • antibiotics discouraged 
  • - PCT > 0.50 ng/mL and < 80% decrease from peak/baseline value 
    • antibiotics encouraged

Performing Department

Chemistry

Performing Department Laboratory Location

CHW

Corewell Health Reference Laboratory, Grand Rapids, MI
Corewell Health Big Rapids Laboratory, Big Rapids, MI
Corewell Health Blodgett Laboratory, Grand Rapids, MI
Corewell Health Gerber Laboratory, Fremont, MI

Corewell Health Greenville Laboratory, Greenville, MI
Corewell Health Ludington Laboratory, Ludington, MI
Corewell Health Pennock Laboratory, Hastings, MI
Corewell Health Zeeland Laboratory, Zeeland, MI

 

CHS
Corewell Health Lakeland St. Joseph Laboratory, St. Joseph, MI

Methodology

Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay (ELFA)

CPT

84145

CDM Code

3018414501

Epic Test ID

1230101074

LOINC

Procalcitonin: 33959-8

Mayo Access Code

SHO3072

Reviewed Date

3/7/2024

Updated Date

3/19/2024 - Reference Range

5/23/2025 - CHS info added