Routine: 1 Hour
Urgent: 1 Hour

Concentrations under 0.5 ng/mL do not exclude local infections or systemic infections in their initial stages (e.g. under six hours from onset of illness). 

Procalcitonin concentrations between 0.5 and 2.0 ng/mL should be interpreted with consideration of the patient’s history. In this range, it is recommended to retest within 6 to 24 hours. 

Elevated Procalcitonin levels may be seen in conditions other than systemic bacterial infection. These may include but are not limited to polytrauma, burns, major surgery, and prolonged or cardiogenic shock. In addition, certain patient characteristics including, renal insufficiency or failure, may impact procalcitonin levels and should be considered as potentially confounding clinical factors when evaluating procalcitonin results.

Full 4 mL GREEN top (Lithium Heparin) tube.

Two hour stability from collection.

Full 1 mL GREEN top (Lithium Heparin) tube.

Two hour stability from collection.

Reference range: Less than 0.5 ng/mL

Less than 0.50 ng/mL: Low risk of severe sepsis and/or septic shock. 
Greater than 2.00 ng/mL: High risk of severe sepsis and/or septic shock.