Procalcitonin (PCT) , a precursor of the hormone Calcitonin, consists of almost 116 amino acid residues. C-cells of the thyroid gland & neuroendocrine cells in the lungs and intestines secrete Procalcitonin (PCT). PCT is present in very small amounts in the body. In 1993, studies showed that elevated serum PCT levels were positively associated with bacterial infections and sepsis in patients. In normal conditions, it is secreted by the Thyroid from C-cells, but in bacterial infections, it is secreted by neuroendocrine cells in the lungs and intestines.
Clinical Significance of Procalcitonin and Interpretation
PCT has a significant role in diagnosing and managing diseases, including:
- Diagnosis of bacterial infection: Elevated PCT levels help diagnose bacterial infections and differentiate them from viral infections and other non-infectious causes of inflammation.
- Bacterial sepsis: Procalcitonin is a useful marker for diagnosing severe bacterial sepsis.
- Organ Rejection: To distinguish acute organ transplant rejection from bacterial infections, plasma procalcitonin levels may serve as a diagnostic tool.
- Meningitis: Blood procalcitonin levels can help confirm bacterial meningitis.
- Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: Procalcitonin is used to detect the recurrence of medullary thyroid Carcinoma.
Different Diagnostic ways to test for procalcitonin levels
A doctor recommends a PCT test to detect and measure procalcitonin levels in the blood.
Serum PCT Level – In healthy adults, serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels are usually 0.1 ng/mL.
Commonly used methods to detect PCT levels in laboratories include electrochemiluminescence (ECLIA), Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (CLIA), Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Radioimmunoassay (RIA).
The detection of PCT based on the most advanced Chemiluminescence Immunoassay is used for quantitative measurement of Procalcitonin (PCT) in human serum/plasma samples s an aid in the diagnosis of bacterial infectious disease in conjunction with other laboratory and clinical findings.
Conclusion Procalcitonin (PCT) is used in clinical practice as a marker that indicates bacterial infection and systemic inflammation—it helps distinguish bacterial infections from other types of inflammation, enabling more accurate treatment decisions. It is also used to optimise antibiotic use & facilitating to avoid unnecessary treatment, improving outcomes, notably in patients with sepsis and respiratory infections.
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