Specimen Type: Serum

Specimen Required: 3-5 Cc Yellow Top Gel Vial

Day Performed: Daily

Reporting Time: 8-24 Hours   

Methodology: Beckman Coulter Access II/ Snibe Maglumi 4000

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

It aids in the risk assessment of critically ill patients on their first day of intensive care unit admission for progression to severe sepsis and septic shock. It may also be used to assess the cumulative 28-day risk of all-cause mortality for patients diagnosed with severe sepsis or septic shock. Decision making on antibiotic discontinuation for patients with suspected or confirmed sepsis may also be made based on this test.

Increased PCT levels may not always be related to systemic infection. Conditions that may result in increased PCT concentrations include, but are not limited to:

• Patients experiencing major trauma or recent surgical procedure, including extracorporeal circulation or burns
• Patients under treatment with OKT3 antibodies, OK-432, interleukins, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and other drugs stimulating the release of proinflammatory cytokines or resulting in anaphylaxis
• Patients diagnosed with active medullary C-cell carcinoma, small cell lung carcinoma, or bronchial carcinoid
• Patients with acute or chronic viral hepatitis or decompensated severe liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh Class C)
• Patients with prolonged or severe cardiogenic shock, prolonged severe organ perfusion anomalies, or after resuscitation from cardiac arrest
• Patients receiving peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis treatment
• Patients with biliary pancreatitis, chemical pneumonitis, or heat stroke
• Patients with invasive fungal infections (eg, candidiasis, aspergillosis) or acute attacks of plasmodium falciparum malaria
• Neonates during the first 2 days of life