The procalcitonin test may help prevent unnecessary use of antibiotic, which can lead to antibiotic-resistance bacteria. In comparison to traditional blood tests, which may take 24 to 48 hours to detect infections, a PCT could detect infections in less than one hour if the healthcare facility has on-site lab testing.
The PCT has already been approved by the FDA for diagnosing sepsis. Summa is expected to begin trials to determine the test’s efficacy in pneumonia patients this summer.
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