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Test Code LAB6077 Procalcitonin

Important Note

Test should NOT be ordered on patients <8 days or >60 days of age

Performing Laboratory

St. Louis Children's Hospital Laboratory - Chemistry

Specimen Requirements

Patient Preparation: None

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Mint green-top Lithium Heparin (MNTGRN LiHep) tube

Acceptable: Green samplette/microtainer, plain red-top tube, Gold SST gel tube, or Lavender-top (EDTA) tube

Submission Container/Tube: If specimen is coming from outside facility and collected in a microtainer, plain red-top tube, or lavender-top tube aliquot processed sample into a plastic vial for transport (labeling with specimen type).

Specimen Collection Volume: 2.0 mL (minimum 0.6 mL)

Special Instructions: Send to lab promptly.

NOTE: testing is not recommended for infants/children <8 days or >60 days of age

Sample Rejection

Mislabled or unlabeled specimens

Logistics

Test Availability: Monday-Sunday

Cut-off time: None, performed as received

Turnaround Time: Same Day; 1-2 hours from receipt in performing lab

Reference Values

Reference Interval: 

<7 days: ≤ 20.00 ng/mL
7-60 days: ≤ 0.50 ng/mL
>60 days: ≤ 0.25 ng/mL
Note: concentrations greater than 0.50 ng/mL in infants 8-60 days may indicate invasive bacterial infection.

Critical Value: None established

 

Methodology

Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay (ECLIA): sandwich principle

Limitations

  • NA

Additional Information

FOR SLCH CORE LABORATORY USE ONLY

Lab Processing Instructions: Centrifuge to separate. If specimen is collected in microtainer, plain red-top tube, or lavender-top tube aliquot sample into a Roche false-bottom tube for testing (labeling aliquot with specimen type).

Processed Volume: 0.3 mL plasma/serum

Analyte Stability:

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Whole Blood (unprocessed)  Ambient NA
Plasma/Serum (processed) Refrigerated (preferred)   2 days
  Ambient  24 hours
  Frozen  3 months    

Test Classification and CPT Code

84148

LOINC

75241-0

Last Reviewed

06/2025