Reference or Target Ranges

comment 1:

Children <72 hours: <2.0 ng/mL at birth, rises to ≤20 ng/mL at 18-30 hours of age, then falls to ≤0.15 ng/mL by 72 hours of age

comment 2:

PCT <0.15 ng/mL Healthy Individuals

PCT <0.5 ng/mL Systemic infection (sepsis) is not likely. PCT levels below 0.5 ng/ml do not exclude an infection, because localized infections may be associated with such low levels. Also if the PCT measurement is done very early after following bacterial challenge (usually <6 hours), these values may still be low. In this case, PCT should be re-assessed 6-24 hours later.

PCT ≥0.5 - <2 ng/mL Systemic infection (sepsis) is possible, but various conditions are known to induce PCT as well. Moderate risk for progression to severe systemic infection. The patient should be closely monitored both clinically and by re-assessing PCT within 6-24 hours.

PCT ≥2 - <10 ng/ml Systemic infection is likely, unless other causes are known. High risk for progression to severe systemic infection.

PCT ≥10 ng/ml Important systemic inflammatory response, almost exclusively due to severe bacterial sepsis or septic shock.