The Procalcitonin (PCT) test is a blood test used to measure the level of procalcitonin, a substance produced in response to bacterial infections. Under normal conditions, procalcitonin levels in the blood are very low, but they increase significantly during severe bacterial infections and sepsis.
This test is widely used to help differentiate bacterial infections from viral infections and to assess the severity of infection. It is particularly useful in diagnosing sepsis, a life-threatening condition caused by the body's response to infection.
The purpose of this test is to