Procalcitonin
General
Synonym/Acronym:
PCT.
Rationale
To assist in diagnosing bacterial infection and risk for developing sepsis.
Patient Preparation
There are no food, fluid, activity, or medication restrictions unless by medical direction.
Normal Findings
Method: Fluorescence Immunoassay.
Age | Conventional Units | SI Units (Conventional Units × 1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Newborn | Less than 2 ng/mL | Less than 2 mcg/L | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
18–20 hr | Less than 20 ng/mL | Less than 20 mcg/L | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
48 hr | Less than 5 ng/mL | Less than 5 mcg/L | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3 days–adult | Less than 0.1 ng/mL | Less than 0.1 mcg/L | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interpretive Guidelines | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interpretation | Conventional Units | SI Units | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bacterial infection absent or highly unlikely | Less than 0.1 ng/mL | Less than 0.1 mcg/L | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bacterial infection possible, low risk for development of sepsis | Less than 0.5 ng/mL | Less than 0.5 mcg/L | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bacterial infection likely, development of sepsis is possible | 0.5–2 ng/mL | 0.5–2 mcg/L | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bacterial infection highly likely, high risk for development of sepsis or septic shock | 2.1–9.9 ng/mL or greater | 2.1–9.9 mcg/L or greater | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The value of individual levels or absolute cutoffs varies between facilities; many have adopted multivariate criteria for the evaluation and management of sepsis that may or may not include procalcitonin measurements. |
Critical Findings and Potential Interventions
N/A
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Citation
Van Leeuwen, Anne M., and Mickey Lynn. Bladh. "Procalcitonin." Davis's Lab & Diagnostic Tests, 10th ed., F.A. Davis Company, 2023. Nursing Central, nursing.unboundmedicine.com/nursingcentral/view/Davis-Lab-and-Diagnostic-Tests/425426/1/Procalcitonin.
Van Leeuwen AMA, Bladh MLM. Procalcitonin. Davis's Lab & Diagnostic Tests. F.A. Davis Company; 2023. https://nursing.unboundmedicine.com/nursingcentral/view/Davis-Lab-and-Diagnostic-Tests/425426/1/Procalcitonin. Accessed December 11, 2024.
Van Leeuwen, A. M., & Bladh, M. L. (2023). Procalcitonin. In Davis's Lab & Diagnostic Tests (10th ed.). F.A. Davis Company. https://nursing.unboundmedicine.com/nursingcentral/view/Davis-Lab-and-Diagnostic-Tests/425426/1/Procalcitonin
Van Leeuwen AMA, Bladh MLM. Procalcitonin [Internet]. In: Davis's Lab & Diagnostic Tests. F.A. Davis Company; 2023. [cited 2024 December 11]. Available from: https://nursing.unboundmedicine.com/nursingcentral/view/Davis-Lab-and-Diagnostic-Tests/425426/1/Procalcitonin.
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