Clinical Education Center

Question 1. What is the intended use for procalcitonin?

The procalcitonin test is intended to be used in conjunction with other laboratory findings and clinical assessments to assess the risk of progression to severe sepsis and septic shock in critically ill patients.

Question 2. What cutoff points are used in systemic bacterial infection/sepsis risk assessment?

<0.50 ng/mL: low risk for sepsis; local bacterial infection possible
>0.50 to <2.00 ng/mL: sepsis is possible; other conditions possible
>2.00 to <10.00 ng/mL: sepsis likely
>10.00 ng/mL: severe bacterial sepsis or septic shock probable

Question 3. What cutoff points are used in risk assessment of bacterial infection in the lower respiratory tract?

<0.10 ng/mL: bacterial infection very unlikely
>0.10 to <0.25 ng/mL: bacterial infection unlikely
>0.25 to <0.50 ng/mL: bacterial infection likely
>0.50 ng/mL: bacterial infection very likely

Question 4. Can procalcitonin be used as a marker for diagnosis and/or follow-up of patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma?

A strong correlation was observed between procalcitonin and calcitonin levels in patients with medullary thyroid cancer.¹ Given that procalcitonin has greater analytical stability than does calcitonin, procalcitonin is a promising marker for the diagnosis and monitoring of medullary thyroid carcinoma.

Reference

1. Algeciras-Schmnich A, Preissner CM, Theobald JP, et al. Procalcitonin: a marker for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009;94:861-868.