The Use of Procalcitonin in Clinical Practice

Procalcitonin (PCT) has emerged as the most promising marker of infectious inflammation. This development is critical to the practicing doctor dealing with febrile patients with suspected sepsis. An ideal biomarker would provide data for early diagnosis, differentiation of bacterial from non-bacterial causes of inflammation and information about the clinical course and prognosis of the disease. PCT is an early biomarker that is present within 3 to 4 hours of the triggering infection. An undetectable PCT level would efficiently rule out systemic infection. PCT may also be viewed as a marker of resolving infection as it has a half-life of about 22 hours, and its blood level correlates with bacterial load. Thus, PCT may be used as a clinical tool for early diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic guide. Automated platforms with short assay times and service that is available 24 hours a day have enabled clinicians to obtain rapid reliable results for the early diagnosis and timely monitoring of appropriate pharmacotherapy. Clinicians should use PCT as an adjunct to clinical and other diagnostic criteria.