Comparison of procalcitonin measurement by a semi-quantitative method and an ultra-sensitive quantitative method in a pediatric emergency department

Clin Biochem. 2009 Oct;42(15):1557-60. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2009.07.005. Epub 2009 Jul 16.

Abstract

Objective: To compare procalcitonin measurements between semi-quantitative and quantitative assays.

Method: Procalcitonin was measured with the PCT-Q and the Kryptor assays in a pediatric emergency department.

Results: Among the 359 pairs of results, 103 had discordant results. The linear weighted kappa was 0.44 (95% CI 0.36, 0.51). The concordant/discordant results distribution varied depending on the laboratory technician (p=0.018).

Conclusion: Agreement between procalcitonin measured semi-quantitatively and quantitatively was moderate. This is probably due to a subjective interpretation of the assay result.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Infections / blood*
  • Bacterial Infections / diagnosis
  • Biological Assay / instrumentation
  • Biological Assay / methods*
  • Calcitonin / blood*
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide
  • Child, Preschool
  • Emergency Service, Hospital*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Pediatrics / methods*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Protein Precursors / blood*
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • CALCA protein, human
  • Protein Precursors
  • Calcitonin
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide