Procalcitonin

Sepsis (also called septicemia) is your immune system's extreme response to an infection, usually from bacteria. Sepsis happens when an infection you already have spreads into your bloodstream and triggers a chain reaction throughout your body. It causes inflammation (swelling) and blood clots. Without quick treatment, sepsis can rapidly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, or even death.

Infections that lead to sepsis most often start in your lungs, urinary tract, skin, or digestive system. A procalcitonin test can help your health care provider diagnose if you have sepsis from a bacterial infection or if you have a high risk of developing sepsis. This may help you get the right treatment quickly before your condition worsens. Procalcitonin testing can also help tell a bacterial infection from a viral one in conditions such as pneumonia or meningitis, support care after major surgery, severe trauma, or burns, and track how well antibiotic treatment is working.

The higher your procalcitonin levels, the higher your risk for sepsis and septic shock.

Slightly high levels of procalcitonin mean that you are unlikely to develop sepsis, but they may still warrant follow-up with your provider.