Procalcitonin is the precursor of calcitonin (CT) hormone. CT is secreted by C cells of thyroid in response to increased calcium levels and inhibits bone resorption by osteoclasts to minimize the oscillations in serum calcium. During inflamation, especially in response to bacterial infection, the tissue spesific control of calcitonin peptides break down to Procalcitonin. This makes procalcitaonin a marker for severe bacterial infections and a tool in the discrimination of bacterial and virutic infections.
Interpretation: Pro CT becomes detectable within 2-4 hours after a trigegring event and peaks by 12-24 hours. The higher the levels of infection the more detectable is ProCT. Pro CT is eliminated in 24-35 hours in the blood. This makes it a good indicator of serial monitoring for cardiac surgery, severe trauma, severe burns and multiorgan failure which may result in elevated ProCT. Increases are indicators of bacteremia and septicemia in adults and children, renal involvement in urinary tract infection in children, systemic secondary infection post-surgery, in severe trauma, burns and multiorgan failure, diagnosis of bacterial versus virutic meningitis, differential diagnosis of community acquired bacterial versus viral pneumonia (Ex.Covid-19 infection). Blood levels are used in monitoring risk stratification, monitoring septic schock and monitoring the therapeutic response to antibacterial therapy.
Sample: Arm vein blood. Nonfasting
Working day: Everyday
Result Time: Same day 18:00 PM
