VIDAS^® B.R.A.H.M.S PCT^™

Procalcitonin (PCT) helps differentiate bacterial from viral infections, the early detection of an elevated PCT level in patients with suspected bacterial infections enabling earlier antibiotic treatment. PCT also supports informed decisions on when to continue or stop antibiotics, improving patient care and decreasing antibiotic misuse and resistance.

VIDAS^® B.R.A.H.M.S PCT^™ is an automated test for the determination of procalcitonin (PCT) in human serum or plasma.

 

Early Diagnosis and Monitoring

• Early and highly specific marker for severe bacterial infection

Procalcitonin (PCT) is detected in the blood stream within 3 to 6 hours after an infectious challenge. It is upregulated in response to bacterial but not viral infections. The marker’s level rises with increasing severity of infection, and returns to normal as the infection resolves.

• Useful tool to monitor treatment efficacy

PCT has a half-life of 24 hours. In adults, levels decrease daily by around 50% if the bacterial infection is controlled by the immune system supported by effective antibiotic therapy. Non-decreasing levels may point to treatment failure.

Kinetic profiles of different biomarkers of bacterial infection  - Click to enlarge 

(adapted from Meisner et al., 1999¹)

PCT impact on Antibiotic Therapy

Use of Procalcitonin in CRITICAL CARE: SEPSIS

In clinical studies including more than 1,000 ICU patients it has been demonstrated that the application of a decision algorithm based on the relative decrease of plasma PCT levels over time allows a significant reduction in the duration of antibiotic therapy and the length of ICU stay, without apparent harm to patients with severe sepsis and septic shock^2,3.

Procalcitonin-based algorithm for the decision to continue or stop antibiotics for patients

with sepsis in intensive care units - Click to enlarge  

(adapted from Bouadma et al., 2010⁴ and Schuetz et al., 2011⁵)

 

Use of Procalcitonin in PRIMARY CARE: LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS (LRTI)

Due to the high specificity of PCT for bacterial infection, PCT measurement at relatively low concentrations can identify patients with clinically relevant bacterial infection of the lower respiratory tract (LRTI) who require antibiotic therapy^6,7.

Procalcitonin-based algorithm for the decision to start antibiotics for patients

with suspected low or moderate risk LRTI - Click to enlarge 

(adapted from Schuetz et al., 2011⁵)

Data from multicenter randomized controlled trials in more than 1,000 patients with LRTI could demonstrate that with this approach, antibiotic exposure could be reduced by 65% in a primary care setting⁶. Importantly, there was no impairment of the patient outcome compared to standard treatment⁶.

Click to enlarge 

Assessment of Severity and Prognosis

It has been demonstrated that increased PCT values are the best indicator for the severity of infection and organ dysfunction⁸. As PCT levels correlate with severity of infection (as assessed by SOFA/Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score), an increase in PCT indicates progression of sepsis.

Assessment of severity of disease (increasing organ dysfunction) by PCT

(adapted from Meisner M.⁹⁾

Solution adapted to Emergency Settings

Choose VIDAS^® B.R.A.H.M.S PCT^™ to take advantage of key benefits:

• Rapid result: 20 minutes
• Ease-of-use:
  
  • Fully automated test on bench top VIDAS^® instrument
• Cost-effective solution:
  
  • Single-dose format
  • All reagents included in the kit
  • Monthly calibration
• VIDAS^® B.R.A.H.M.S PCT^™ is part of a large VIDAS^® Emergency Diagnostic solution, which also includes markers of cardiac necrosis, heart failure and thrombosis

Not all of the products are FDA cleared.

FDA cleared products may not be cleared for all indications mentioned on this site.

Product claims may differ from country to country on regulations and approvals. Please contact your country representative for further details.

References:

1. Meisner M., J Lab Med 1999;23:263-72
2. Kopterides P et al., Crit Care Med 2010; 38: 2229-41
3. Schuetz P et al., Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2010, 8(5):575-587
4. Bouadma et al., Lancet 2010;375: DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61879-1
5. Schuetz P et al., Arch Intern Med 2011;171:1322-1331
6. Schuetz P et al., Clin Infect Dis, 55: 651-662
7. Christ-Crain M et al., Lancet 2004, 363: 600-607
8. Harbarth S et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2001,164 :396-402
9. Meisner et al., Crit Care 1999, 3:45-50