9011. Procalcitonin
Description
Procalcitonin is an acute phase protein of inflammation. Normally, it is synthesized by the thyroid gland and is detected in the blood in a residual amount.
Procalcitonin is a marker of severe infection and is used to diagnose sepsis, shock, acute pancreatitis, puerperal fever, multiple organ failure, infectious complications after surgery. Its levels should be studied in combination with C-reactive protein, CBC with a leukocyte formula, CUT.
When and who needs the test?
- suspected sepsis;
- severe lingering infections with a risk of developing sepsis;
- fever in the postoperative period;
- postpartum fever;
- suspected neonatal sepsis;
- in acute pancreatitis - differential diagnosis of sterile and infected pancreatic necrosis;
- monitoring of the condition, effectiveness of treatment, evaluation of the prognosis in patients with severe sepsis, severe bacterial infections;
- differential diagnosis of the etiology of fever of unknown origin.
Biological material
- Venous blood
Preparing for a blood test
In order to exclude factors that may affect the test results, we recommend to follow the preparation rules:
- an important condition for laboratory tests is to take blood on an empty stomach.
- 6-12 hours before the test, you should avoid eating, drinking alcohol, smoking, and limit physical activity. Drinking...