Calcitonin

General

Synonym/Acronym:
Thyrocalcitonin.

Rationale
To diagnose and monitor the effectiveness of treatment for medullary thyroid cancer.

Patient Preparation
There are no fluid, activity, or medication restrictions unless by medical direction. Instruct the patient to fast for 10 to 12 hr before specimen collection. Protocols may vary among facilities. Specimen stability is best maintained if the collection tube is prechilled and then immediately transported to the laboratory in an ice slurry.

Normal Findings
Method: Chemiluminescent immunoassay.

Conventional UnitsSI Units (Conventional Units × 1)
Calcitonin Baseline
  MaleLess than 10 pg/mLLess than 10 ng/L
  FemaleLess than 5 pg/mLLess than 5 ng/L

Critical Findings and Potential Interventions
N/A

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