Davis's Lab & Diagnostic Tests
Procalcitonin
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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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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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