Novel Point-Of-Care Test Kit for Procalcitonin Evaluated

In response to inflammation, procalcitonin plasma concentrations increase more rapidly than other acute-phase reactants and higher values are associated with severe disease. Procalcitonin measurements assist in determining whether antibiotic therapy should be used.

For rapid diagnosis, point-of- Care test (POCT) is performed for early decision-making about additional testing or therapy. Despite being semi-quantitative, POCT results are helpful in situations when quantitative measurements are required quickly, such as within one to three hours.

Scientists at the Catholic University of Korea and their colleagues evaluated a total of 158 specimens, 115 specimens with procalcitonin levels ranging from 0 to 18.96 ng/mL were randomly selected for this study. Ages ranged from 15 to 90 years, with 51.7±19.9 (age mean ± SD) for the 158 samples, 77 males (54.4±19.9), and 81 females (49.1±19.4).

The team used the ABSOGEN PCT, which is a novel, rapid, and semi-quantitative immunochromatographic POCT assay that analyses whole blood. The study compared patient quantitative test results using the Modular E170 analyzer to ABSOGEN PCT test results. ABSOGEN PCT Analysis was performed using fresh whole blood sample remnants collected in EDTA tubes for routine complete blood count assays.

The investigators found that the concordance rate between ABSOGEN PCT using the reader and quantitative assay, between ABSOGEN PCT using naked eyes and quantitative assay and between ABSOGEN PCT using the reader and naked eyes for the same category was 83.5%, 78.5%, and 82.3%, respectively. The concordance rates for the ±1 categories were all 100%. Since high procalcitonin levels indicate the immediate need for sepsis therapy, a bedside test that yields results quickly can be critically important. In this situation, the present novel POCT could be useful.

The authors concluded that The ABSOGEN PCT blood procalcitonin test is a very simple and rapid test. The turnaround time is rapid because it uses whole blood; centrifugation is not required and the reaction is rapid. Serum or plasma also can be used. Sample volume for the test is small and no need for dilution. Even though the reaction band is narrow and faint, there is no difficulty in differentiating positive and negative, but some effort is needed to differentiate the grades using the naked eye and therefore a reader is recommended. The study was published on December 13, 2016, in the Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis.