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HelpTest Code PCT Procalcitonin
Additional Codes
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Cerner |
NextGen |
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Procalcitonin |
Procalcitonin |
Alternate Name(s)
PCT
Methodology
Chemiluminescent Immunometric Immunoassay
Patient Preparation
None
Collection Instructions
Standard phlebotomy practices.
Specimen Requirements
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Container |
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Stability |
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Rejection Criteria |
Gross Hemolysis |
Result Reporting and Reference Values
Reported in ng/mL
- Normal Reference range for 3 days old and up: <0.08
- Normal reference range (95th percentile) for neonates <3 days old:
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Age in hours |
Normal PCT |
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0-6 |
≤2 |
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6-12 |
≤8 |
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12-18 |
≤15 |
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18-30 |
≤21 |
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30-36 |
≤15 |
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36-42 |
≤8 |
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42-48 |
≤2 |
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48-72 |
≤1 |
- Sepsis risk assessment for 18 years old and up:
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Risk assessment for progression to sepsis |
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<0.5 |
Systemic Infection (sepsis) is not likely and low risk for progression to severe sepsis but does not exclude a localized bacterial infection. |
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≥0.5 - <2 |
Systemic infection (sepsis) is possible and moderate risk for progression to severe systemic infection. Other conditions are known to elevate PCT as well. Re-assessing PCT within 6-24 hours is recommended. |
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≥2 - <10 |
Systemic infection (sepsis) is likely and high risk for progression to severe systemic infection. |
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≥10 |
Important systemic inflammatory response almost exclusively due to severe bacterial sepsis or septic shock |
Reflex Testing
None
Limitations
- Heterophilic antibodies in serum or plasma samples may cause interference in immunoassays. These antibodies may be present in blood samples from individuals regularly exposed to animals or who have been treated with animal serum products. Results that are inconsistent with clinical observations indicate the need for additional testing.
- Decisions regarding antibiotic therapy should NOT be based solely on procalcitonin concentrations.
- Severity of renal failure or insufficiency, may influence procalcitonin values and should be considered as potentially confounding clinical factors when interpreting PCT values.
- PCT levels may not be elevated in patients infected by certain atypical pathogens, such as Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
Useful For
Measurement of procalcitonin concentrations may aid in the risk assessment of critically ill patients for progression to severe sepsis and septic shock and the change of procalcitonin levels over time may also offer information about the risk of mortality after diagnosis of severe sepsis or septic shock.
In healthy people, plasma procalcitonin concentrations are found to be low. Procalcitonin levels rise rapidly within 6–12 hours after an infectious bacterial insult. The magnitude of the increase in plasma procalcitonin concentration correlates with the severity of the bacterial infection with concentrations above defined cutoffs to indicate clinically relevant bacterial infection, requiring antibiotic treatment. The relief of the septic infection is accompanied by a decrease in procalcitonin concentration which returns to normal within 24 hours. The continuous decline of procalcitonin is indicative of effective source control measures and has been used to guide safe discontinuation of antibiotic therapy.