Procalcitonin
Procalcitonin is a peptide precursor of the hormone calcitonin that rises rapidly in response to bacterial infections. It is used to help distinguish bacterial infections from other causes of inflamm…
Category: Inflammation & Immune
Also known as: procalcitonin, pct, pro-calcitonin, prokalcitonin
Reference range: 0–0.1 ng/mL (Source: ABIM)
Standard unit: ng/mL
High values may indicate
High procalcitonin levels strongly suggest bacterial infection or sepsis. Levels may also rise with severe trauma, major surgery, or certain cancers (medullary thyroid carcinoma).
Low values may indicate
Low procalcitonin levels suggest that a bacterial infection is unlikely and that symptoms may be caused by a viral infection or non-infectious inflammation.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a normal Procalcitonin level?
- A typical reference range for Procalcitonin is 0–0.1 ng/mL (source: ABIM). Reference ranges vary by laboratory, age, and sex, so always compare against the range on your own lab report.
- What units is Procalcitonin measured in?
- Procalcitonin is most commonly reported in ng/mL. Labs in different countries may use other units — you can convert between them with BloodId's blood test unit converter.
- Where do Procalcitonin reference ranges come from?
- BloodId uses ABIM standard reference ranges and educational information from MedlinePlus (see our methodology). Reference ranges still vary by lab, age, and sex, so always compare against your own report.
- Can I track Procalcitonin over time?
- Yes. Upload results from any lab and BloodId charts your Procalcitonin over time against its reference range, so you can see whether the trend is rising, falling, or stable.
Related biomarkers
Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
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