Skip to main content

Holiday schedule

Our Patient Service Centers will be closed on Wednesday, December 25, 2024 in observance of Christmas and Wednesday, January 1, 2025 in observance of New Year's Day. Have a healthy, happy holiday.

Hide
Quest Diagnostics

Procalcitonin

Test code(s) 16265

The procalcitonin test is intended to be used in conjunction with other laboratory findings and clinical assessments to assess the risk of progression to severe sepsis and septic shock in critically ill patients.

<0.50 ng/mL: low risk for sepsis; local bacterial infection possible
>0.50 to <2.00 ng/mL: sepsis is possible; other conditions possible
>2.00 to <10.00 ng/mL: sepsis likely
>10.00 ng/mL: severe bacterial sepsis or septic shock probable

<0.10 ng/mL: bacterial infection very unlikely
>0.10 to <0.25 ng/mL: bacterial infection unlikely
>0.25 to <0.50 ng/mL: bacterial infection likely
>0.50 ng/mL: bacterial infection very likely

A strong correlation was observed between procalcitonin and calcitonin levels in patients with medullary thyroid cancer.1 Given that procalcitonin has greater analytical stability than does calcitonin, procalcitonin is a promising marker for the diagnosis and monitoring of medullary thyroid carcinoma.

Reference

  1. Algeciras-Schmnich A, Preissner CM, Theobald JP, et al. Procalcitonin: a marker for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009;94:861-868.

 

This FAQ is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. A clinician’s test selection and interpretation, diagnosis, and patient management decisions should be based on his/her education, clinical expertise, and assessment of the patient.

Document FAQS.46 Revision: 0

Our company

Quest® is the brand name used for services offered by Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and its affiliated companies. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and certain affiliates are CLIA-certified laboratories that provide HIPAA-covered services.  Other affiliates operated under the Quest® brand, such as Quest Consumer Inc., do not provide HIPAA-covered services. 

 

Quest®, Quest Diagnostics®, any associated logos, and all associated Quest Diagnostics registered or unregistered trademarks are the property of Quest Diagnostics. All third-party marks—® and ™—are the property of their respective owners. © 2024 Quest Diagnostics Incorporated. All rights reserved. Image content features models and is intended for illustrative purposes only.