Category
SPECIAL CHEMISTRY.
Sub Category
ENDOCRINE; TUMOR MARKER
Synonyms/Aliases
THYROCALCITONIN
Abbreviations
N/A
Type
INDIVIDUAL TEST
Results
RESULTS READY/ REPORTED IN 5 WORKING DAYS
Method
IMMUNOASSAY
Temp
FROZEN PREFERRED. AMBIENT (ROOM) TEMPERATURE NOT ACCEPTABLE.
Setup
BATCHED
Components Parameters
NOT APPLICABLE
PRE-ANALYTIC CONSIDERATIONS
Test Ordering Instructions
FILL OUT TEST REQUEST FORM FULLY & LEGIBLY.
Patient preparation
NO PREPARATION REQUIRED
Sample type
SERUM
Container/ preservative
SERUM SEPARATOR TUBE (SST/ GEL) OR PLAIN (RED TOP) VACUTAINER.
Sample volume
AT LEAST 2ML
Rejection criteria
LABELING ISSUE (UNLABELED/ MISLABELED); MISSING REQUEST FORM; MISMATCH BETWEEN REQUEST FORM & SAMPLE DETAILS; MISSING AGE/ GENDER; WRONG SAMPLE TYPE; INSUFFICIENT SAMPLE. SAMPLE(S) NOT FROZEN
Other Instructions
CENTRIFUGE SST (SERUM GEL TUBES) WITHIN 1-2 HOURS OF COLLECTION. CENTRIFUGE RED TOP VACUTAINERS AND ALIQUOT SERUM WITHIN 1-2 HOURS OF COLLECTION. THE SEPARATION VIAL MUST BE LABELED WITH AT LEAST 2 PATIENT IDENTIFIERS AND THE SAMPLE TYPE.
Reference intervals
APPROPRIATE VALUES ARE PROVIDED ON THE REPORT.
Clinical Utility
AN ADJUNCT IN DIAGNOSIS OF MEDULLARY THYROID CANCER (C CELL CARCINOMA). MONITORING TREATMENT RESPONSE, DISEASE PROGRESSION & ASSESSING RECURRENCE IN MEDULLARY THYROID CANCER. LEVELS MAY ALSO BE ELEVATED IN OTHER CANCERS E.G. LUNG CANCER, MYELOPROLIFERATIVE NEOPLASMS, LEUKEMIAS ETC. SCREEN PEOPLE WITH A FAMILY HISTORY OF MULTIPLE ENDOCRINE NEOPLASIA TYPE 2 (MEN 2).
Test Limitations/ Confounders
LEVELS MAY BE ELEVATED IN MULTIPLE BENIGN CONDITIONS E.G. AUTOIMMUNE THYROIDITIS, C-CELL HYPERPLASIA, HYPERCALCEMIA, ALCOHOLISM, RENAL INSUFFICIENCY ETC. IMMUNOASSAY INTERFERENCE CAN GIVE RISE TO SPURIOUS RESULTS. SUCH INTERFERENCE CAN ARISE FROM PRESENCE OF HETEROPHILE ANTIBODIES, ANTI-ANIMAL ANTIBODIES, AUTOANTIBODIES, PARAPROTEINS, BIOTIN ETC. RESULTS SHOULD ALWAYS BE CORRELATED WITH CLINICAL FINDINGS.