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Calcitonin

Thyrocalcitonin

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB5963, Beaker: XCALT, WARDE: CLCTN

Department

Send Outs

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): One Gold-top SST tube.
Also acceptable: One plain Red-top tube.

Critical frozen. Place specimen on ice and immediately deliver to the Laboratory for processing. Separate specimens must be submitted when multiple tests are ordered.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Critical frozen. Centrifuge to separate serum from cells immediately. Transfer serum or plasma to a plastic transport tube and freeze (-20°C/-4°F or below) immediately.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 1.0 mL serum or plasma, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 0.5 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Hemolyzed specimens.
• Icteric specimens
• Lipemic specimens.
• Plasma specimen
• Specimens not collected or processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Critical frozen. Centrifuge to separate serum from cells immediately. Transfer serum or plasma to a plastic transport tube and freeze (-20°C/-4°F or below) immediately.

Transport: 1.0 mL serum or plasma, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 0.5 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): Unacceptable
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): Unacceptable
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 15 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Warde Medical Laboratory, Ann Arbor, MI.

Performed

Tuesday, Friday.
Results available in 1-4 days.

Reference Range

See report.

Test Methodology

Chemiluminescence

Interpretation

Calcitonin is secreted by the parafollicular C-cells of the thyroid gland. Its primary physiological effect is to lower serum calcium levels. It does this, in part, by inhibiting bone resorption and by promoting urinary clearance of calcium.

Calcitonin levels greater than 100 pg/mL may occur in the following conditions: Medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTC), leukemias, and myeloproliferative disorders.

MTC can occur as an inherited malignancy; therefore, the determination of calcitonin levels in family members of patients with MTC serves as a valuable screening tool.

Provocative testing (calcium) is suggested when screening patients for MTC or in patients with MTC if the calcitonin is not clearly diagnostic.

Clinical Utility

The calcitonin assay aids in the detection and diagnosis of C cell hyperplasia (the precursor of medullary carcinoma of thyroid) and as a tumor marker for the diagnosis and management of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid.

CPT Codes

82308
LOINC:  1992-7

Contacts

Last Updated

5/9/2023