Serum Procalcitonin Concentrations in Term Delivering Mothers and Their Healthy Offspring: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract

The postnatal increase of PCT observed in the healthy neonate with peak values at 24 h of age most likely represents endogenous synthesis. In estimating the sensitivities and specificities of PCT for diagnosis of sepsis throughout the initial 48 h of life, it is important to consider the normal PCT kinetics and the pattern(s) of PCT response in the healthy neonate.