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Procalcitonin Test: MedlinePlus Lab Test Information

What is a Procalcitonin Test?

A Procalcitonin take a look at measures the extent of procalcitonin in your blood. A excessive stage could possibly be an indication of a severe bacterial an infection, comparable to sepsis. Sepsis is the physique’s extreme response to an infection. Sepsis occurs when an an infection in a single space of your physique, comparable to your pores and skin or urinary tract, spreads into your bloodstream. This triggers an excessive immune response. It could cause a fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, decreased blood stress, and different signs. Without fast therapy, sepsis can result in organ failure and even demise.

A procalcitonin take a look at may also help your well being care supplier decide you probably have sepsis or one other severe bacterial an infection within the early phases. This might aid you get handled promptly and keep away from life-threatening problems.

Other names: PCT take a look at

What is it used for?

A procalcitonin take a look at could also be used to assist:

Why do I want a procalcitonin take a look at?

You may have this take a look at you probably have signs of sepsis or one other severe bacterial an infection. These signs embody:

This take a look at is normally carried out within the hospital. It is generally used for individuals who come to the emergency room for therapy and for people who find themselves already within the hospital.

What occurs throughout a procalcitonin take a look at?

A well being care skilled will take a blood pattern from a vein in your arm, utilizing a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small quantity of blood can be collected right into a take a look at tube or vial. You might really feel slightly sting when the needle goes in or out. This normally takes lower than 5 minutes.

Will I must do something to arrange for the take a look at?

You do not want any particular preparation for a procalcitonin take a look at.

Are there any dangers to the take a look at?

There may be very little danger to having a blood take a look at. You might have slight ache or bruising on the spot the place the needle was put in, however most signs go away rapidly.

What do the outcomes imply?

If your outcomes present a excessive procalcitonin stage, it is possible you’ve gotten a severe bacterial an infection comparable to sepsis or meningitis. The increased the extent, the extra extreme your an infection could also be. If you’re being handled for an an infection, lowering or low procalcitonin ranges can present that your therapy is working.

Is there the rest I must find out about a procalcitonin take a look at?

Procalcitonin assessments will not be as exact as different laboratory assessments for infections. So your well being care supplier might want to evaluate and/or order different assessments earlier than making a prognosis. But a procalcitonin take a look at does supply necessary info that may assist your supplier begin therapy sooner and should aid you keep away from severe sickness.

References

  1. AACC [Internet] Washington D.C.; American Association for Clinical Chemistry; c2017. Do We Need Procalcitonin for Sepsis?; 2015 Feb [cited 2017 Oct 15]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://www.aacc.org/publications/cln/articles/2015/february/procalcitonin-for-sepsis
  2. Balci C, Sungurtekin H, Gürses E, Sungurtekin U, Kaptanoğlu, B. Usefulness of procalcitonin for prognosis of sepsis within the intensive care unit. Crit Care [Internet]. 2002 Oct 30 [cited 2017 Oct 15]; 7(1):85–90. Available from: https://ccforum.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/cc1843
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [Internet]. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Sepsis: Basic Information [updated 2017 Aug 25; cited 2017 Oct 15]; [about 4 screens]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/sepsis/fundamental/index.html
  4. Children’s Minnesota [Internet]. Minneapolis (MN): Children’s Minnesota; c2017. Chemistry: Procalcitonin [cited 2017 Oct 15]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://www.childrensmn.org/references/lab/chemistry/procalcitonin.pdf
  5. LabCorp [Internet]. Burlington (NC): Laboratory Corporation of America; c2017. Procalcitonin [cited 2017 Oct 15]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.labcorp.com/test-menu/33581/procalcitonin
  6. Lab Tests Online [Internet]. American Association for Clinical Chemistry; c2001–2017. Procalcitonin: The Test [updated 2017 Apr 10; cited 2017 Oct 15]; [about 4 screens]. Available from: https://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/procalcitonin/tab/take a look at
  7. Lab Tests Online [Internet]. American Association for Clinical Chemistry; c2001–2017. Procalcitonin: The Test Sample [updated 2017 Apr 10; cited 2017 Oct 15]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/procalcitonin/tab/pattern
  8. Mayo Clinic: Mayo Medical Laboratories [Internet]. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; c1995–2017. Test ID: PCT: Procalcitonin, Serum [cited 2017 Oct 15]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/83169
  9. Meisner M. Update on Procalcitonin Measurements. Ann Lab Med [Internet]. 2014 Jul [cited 2017 Oct 15]; 34(4): 263–273. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4071182
  10. Merck Manual Professional Version [Internet]. Kenilworth (NJ): Merck & Co. Inc.; c2017. Sepsis, Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock [cited 2017 Dec 9]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: http://www.merckmanuals.com/house/infections/bacteremia,-sepsis,-and-septic-shock/sepsis,-severe-sepsis,-and-septic-shock
  11. Merck Manual Professional Version [Internet]. Kenilworth (NJ): Merck & Co. Inc.; c2017. Sepsis and Septic Shock [cited 2017 Oct 15]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: http://www.merckmanuals.com/skilled/critical-care-medicine/sepsis-and-septic-shock/sepsis-and-septic-shock
  12. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; What To Expect with Blood Tests [updated 2012 Jan 6; cited 2017 Oct 15]; [about 4 screens]. Available from: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/well being/health-topics/subjects/bdt/with
  13. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; What Are the Risks of Blood Tests? [updated 2012 Jan 6; cited 2017 Oct 15]; [about 5 screens]. Available from: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/well being/health-topics/subjects/bdt/dangers

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Procalcitonin Test: MedlinePlus Lab Test Information

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