This test is routinely available 24/7 at Middlemore Hospital laboratory. Samples collected during working weekdays are transported by courier to Middlemore hospital at 9am and 2pm and results should usually be available in Concerto within the same day of collection.
Urgent requests at other times can be sent by taxi. Please mark the request form clearly as URGENT .
Diagnostic Use and Interpretation:
Procalcitonin is an inflammation marker, which may have some advantages over CRP in certain specific clinical situations. In the majority of cases, it performs similarly to CRP, which is available at LabPLUS with a faster turnaround time.
Laboratory Notes
Any queries please contact Section Leader/Technical Specialist SCP - Endocrinology
Sample: Heparin plasma or serum. (EDTA is not acceptable)
Sample Preparation: Centrifuge and aliquot
Two points of ID on aliquot tube
Sample Stability: 4 degrees Celsius up to 48 hours
Freeze if longer than 48 hours
(There is a loss of up to 10% by 4 days)
Transport to Middlemore Hospital, Monday to Friday
Registered before 7:30 am:
Send to Middlemore Hospital on the 9 am routine courier, Monday to Friday
Registered between 7:30 am and 1:30 pm:
Send to Middlemore Hospital on the 2 pm routine courier
Friday after 2pm:
Place in Freezer to send on Monday for non-urgent
Urgent requests after 1:30 pm:
Send to Middlemore Hospital by either Sub60 or taxi
Out-of-hours urgent requests:
Send to Middlemore Hospital by taxi