Calcitonin is produced by parafollicular C-cells of thyroid under calcium control. Calcitonin can also be secreted by small cell carcinoma of the lung, breast carcinoma, renal tubular carcinoma, and carcinoid tumours. Indications for requesting: diagnosis and management of medullary thyroid carcinoma, screening of family members of patients with MTC, screening for MEN II. A single raised levels is sufficient for diagnosis although some patients may require a provocative test. Serial monitoring is useful for assessing recurrence and prognosis. Moderate increases in calcitonin are seen in pregnancy, renal failure and pernicious anaemia.
Tube
01 (SE) – Serum Gel
ID
Tests&Tubes0162
Additional information
Samples must be received in the lab within 30 min of collection. **Please note change of methodology & reference range in June 2020.**
Turn around
Turnaround time stated by Sheffield PRU: 14 working days.
Send to
Blood Sciences LGI
(Test referred to: Sheffield Protein Reference Unit (PRU).)
Contact
For further details please contact Leeds Pathology customer services: [email protected].
Advice
Full Referred Test details logged internally on the referred test database [BSF2REC17003]
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Collection Con
Minimum Volume: 2ml serum. Instructions to lab: Sample must be centrifuged within 30 min of sample collection. Freeze serum. EDTA plasma samples also acceptable.
Sample REQ
Blood
Ref. Range Notes
current method 0 – 10.5 ng/L. Previous method < 2 iU/L
Units
ng/L