Specimen

2 mL (0.5 mL min.) Serum from 1 Red Top (No Additive) tube. Do not use SST gel barrier tubes. Ship frozen. DO NOT THAW. Overnight fasting is preferred.

Usage

Calcitonin is a hormone secreted by parafollicular C cells of thyroid gland. This assay is useful for the diagnosis and follow up of Medullary carcinoma thyroid, as an adjunct to diagnosis of Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type II and Familial Medullary thyroid carcinoma. It is occasionally used in the diagnosis and followup of Islet Cell tumors.