Procalcitonin (ProCT) assay is useful in diagnosis of bacteremia & septicemia in adults and children including neonates. It diagnoses renal involvement in UTI in children, bacterial infection in neutropenic patients & secondary infection post surgery. It helps in the differential diagnosis of bacterial versus viral meningitis and community acquired bacterial versus viral pneumonia. ProCT becomes detectable within 2 to
4 hours after a triggering event and peaks by 12 to 24 hours. ProCT secretion parallels closely the severity of the inflammatory insult, with higher levels associated with more severe disease and declining levels with resolution of illness. In the absence of an ongoing stimulus, ProCT is eliminated with a half-life of 24 to 35 hours, making it suitable for serial monitoring.
25 Jul