concept

procalcitonin

Also known as: PCT

Facts (18)

Sources

Inflammatory Markers | Choose the Right Test arupconsult.com ARUP Consult Jun 16, 2025 12 facts

claimProcalcitonin (PCT) has greater accuracy than C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and may be preferable to CRP in critically ill patients and those in the intensive care unit (ICU).

claimIncreased procalcitonin (PCT) concentrations indicate a higher likelihood of bacterial etiology for acute respiratory infections, although a specific threshold for this diagnosis has not yet been established.

claimMarkers of inflammation beyond CRP, ESR, and PCT include serum amyloid A, cytokines, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein, plasma viscosity, ceruloplasmin, hepcidin, and haptoglobin.

claimHigh costs, limited availability, and lack of standardization limit the practical clinical use of inflammatory markers other than CRP, ESR, and PCT.

claimProcalcitonin (PCT) concentrations may predict mortality in patients with sepsis, and concentrations that have not declined by 80% or more between days 1 and 4 of admission are consistent with a higher cumulative mortality risk.

claimProcalcitonin (PCT) is used in the initial workup of sepsis, where increased concentrations have a high positive predictive value for the progression of severe sepsis or septic shock, and normal concentrations have a high negative predictive value.

claimTests for erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT) have not been fully standardized or harmonized, meaning assay performance may vary between laboratories and lead to significant variation in results.

claimC-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and procalcitonin (PCT) are the most commonly measured inflammatory markers, also known as acute phase reactants, in clinical practice.

claimProcalcitonin (PCT) elevations are not usually associated with bacterial colonization, localized bacterial infection, or allergic responses.

claimProcalcitonin (PCT) is released rapidly into the circulatory system in response to bacterial infection, but elevations can also result from severe viral infection, pancreatitis, tissue trauma, and certain autoimmune disorders.

claimProcalcitonin (PCT) measurements can be used to predict the 28- to 30-day cumulative mortality risk in patients diagnosed with sepsis.

claimProcalcitonin (PCT) measurements should not be used to determine whether to initiate antibiotic therapy in patients with acute respiratory infections or sepsis, but they can be used to help reduce the duration of antibiotic therapy.

Tracking Inflammation Through Biomarkers rupahealth.com Rupa Health Jul 24, 2024 5 facts

claimProcalcitonin (PCT) is a biomarker used to distinguish between bacterial and viral infections, as PCT levels rise more significantly in bacterial infections.

claimUsing procalcitonin (PCT) levels to distinguish between bacterial and viral infections helps guide antibiotic use and reduce unnecessary prescriptions that contribute to antimicrobial resistance.

claimProcalcitonin (PCT) is a biomarker typically elevated during inflammation caused by bacterial infections and sepsis, helping to distinguish bacterial infections from other causes of inflammation.

claimBiomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) help differentiate whether systemic inflammation is caused by infectious sources.

claimPoint-of-care tests allow for the measurement of biomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and erythrocyte aggregation kinetics (EAK) in clinical and home settings.

Common and Novel Markers for Measuring Inflammation and ... pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov A Menzel · PMC 1 fact

claimThe most frequently used inflammatory markers include acute-phase proteins, specifically C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A, fibrinogen, and procalcitonin, as well as cytokines.