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Procalcitonin

65 Azn
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The procalcitonin (PCT) test is used to distinguish bacterial infections from other causes of inflammation, assess the severity of a bacterial infection, and determine the indications for starting or discontinuing antibiotic therapy.

Procalcitonin is a 116-amino acid peptide, first identified as a precursor of calcitonin, a hormone produced by parafollicular (C) cells of the thyroid gland that plays a role in calcium metabolism regulation.

  • The conversion of procalcitonin to calcitonin occurs in C cells of the thyroid gland and is stimulated by increased calcium levels in the blood.
  • Under normal physiological conditions, procalcitonin does not enter the bloodstream—almost all of it is converted to calcitonin.
  • In healthy individuals, procalcitonin is present in the blood at a stable concentration, with its primary sources being the thyroid gland and, to a lesser extent, neuroendocrine tissue of the lungs.

Biomaterial: Venous blood
Pre-test recommendations:

  • Avoid food intake 2–3 hours before the test (drinking water is allowed).
  • Avoid intense physical and emotional stress30 minutes before the test.
  • Do not smoke30 minutes before the test.
  • Assessment of severe sepsis and septic shock risk in critically ill patients.
  • Differentiation of bacterial vs. non-bacterial causes of pneumonia and meningitis.
  • Diagnosis of urinary tract infections in children (assessing kidney involvement risk).
  • Evaluation of fever of unknown origin in children.
  • Individualized antibiotic therapy decisions, including:
    • Starting or stopping antibiotics in patients with acute respiratory infections.
    • Discontinuing antibiotic therapy in patients with sepsis.
  • Detection of secondary bacterial infections in patients with severe trauma, burns, surgeries, or viral infections.
  • Diagnosis of bacterial infections in patients with neutropenia
  • Procalcitonin levels rise in clinically significant bacterial infections.
  • The severity of infection correlates with the degree of PCT elevation.
  • Individual immune response variations and clinical conditions may affect the extent of PCT increase.
  • Test results should always be interpreted alongside clinical evaluation to make informed therapeutic decisions regarding antibiotic use and infection severity assessment