Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

0.5 mL plasma (preferred) or serum

See Specimen Processing Instructions.

Samples should not be taken from patients receiving therapy with high biotin doses (i.e. >5 mg/day) until at least 8 hours following the last biotin administration.

Centrifuge 10 minutes at 3000 rpm. Centrifuge within 30 minutes of collection.

Refrigerated.

Room temperature: 24 hours. Refrigerated: 48 hours. Frozen: 3 months. Freeze and thaw only once.

Stability limit exceeded.

Healthy individuals <0.1 ng/mL

<0.5 ng/mL: Low risk for progression to sepsis. Review patient’s condition for localized infections. 
0.5 – 2.0 ng/mL: Intermediate risk for progression to sepsis. Review underlying conditions. Recommend repeat PCT measurement after 6 hours has elapsed.
>2.0 ng/mL: High risk for progression to sepsis unless other causes are known.

Procalcitonin

PCT, PROCAL

Procalcitonin is secreted in response to proinflammatory stimulation, particularly bacterial stimulation. PCT can be an important marker enabling specific differentiation between bacterial infection and other causes of inflammatory reactions. It is useful for antibiotic stewardship.