Turnaround times
The quoted turnaround time is from sample receipt in the laboratory, to results authorisation in the Laboratory Information Management system. The times do not include transport of specimen to the laboratory or the administrative process to print and post/email reports. Service users must allow for transport and reporting time when ordering tests.
Clinical background:
Increased procalcitonin concentrations are often found in patients suffering from bacterial sepsis, especially severe sepsis and septic shock. Procalcitonin is considered as a prognostic marker to support outcome prediction in sepsis patients.In patients suffering from community-acquired respiratory tract infections or ventilator‑induced pneumonia procalcitonin has been proposed as a guide for the decision of antibiotic treatment necessity and to monitor treatment success.
Specimen container paediatric:
Serum (SST or plain tube)
Specimen container adult:
Serum (SST or plain tube)
Minimum volume paediatric:
0.5 mL blood
Minimum volume adult:
1 mL blood
Sample stability:
Unseparated sample:
24 hours.
Separated sample:
At 15 to 25 deg C 24 hours.
At 4ºC: 2 days.
At -20C: 13 months.
Reference ranges:
0.5 ng/mL represent a low risk of severe sepsis and/or septic shock
2.0 ng/mL represent a high risk of severe sepsis and/or septic shock
Other info:
Lithium heparin plasma sample also acceptable