Exact Answer: Within Three to Four Hours
The field of medicine never ceases to amaze people with its growth. Some various ailments and diseases could be cured easily, but some require special attention. Even if you provide them the correct medications, sometimes, the disease might not be cured.
If you want to know you are being contradicted with anything contagious, you will have to notice the symptoms and signs it exhibits. Sometimes you will not understand the symptoms. At times like that, you will need medical tests and procedures to confirm what you are being contradicted with.
One such test that helps you tests your blood is Procalcitonin (PCT). You will acquire your results within three to four hours.
How Long After PCT Can I Get The Results?
| Name of the test | Reasons to perform the test | Symptoms of the infection | Duration to find out the results |
| Procalcitonin (PCT) | Diagnosis of sepsis or any other infections like meningitis, kidney infections, or any infection caused by bacteria | Fever, low blood pressure, confusion, and much more | At least 3 to 4 hours, since the test itself takes atleast about 2 hours. |
Various medical tests take samples from the patient’s body like blood, urine, and others. But, the common sample used is the blood of the patient. If you feel some symptoms that last for more than 2 to 3 days that you have never experienced, you will be advised to take a blood test.
If you have been experiencing symptoms like feeling feverish, shortness of breath, a decrease in blood pressure, drop in your heartbeat rate, you will be prescribed to take the PCT test.
Procalcitonin, or PCT test, will help you measure the procalcitonin level in your bloodstream. If your procalcitonin level is high, there is a chance that you are contradicted with a serious bacteria infection called sepsis. When you have a high level of PC in your blood, it will create sepsis. It is a way of your body reacting to bacterial infections.
When this infection begins, it starts slowly. But after a while, the infection will spread through your bloodstream into parts of your body, like your skin and urinary tract. It also triggers immunity in your body, which can lead to various onset of symptoms. Sepsis can even cause organ failure and death if left untreated or unnoticed.
PCT tests can help you monitor and find out the effectiveness of any antibiotic treatment you are undergoing. The test can be performed on adults, teenagers, children, and even infants.
Why Does It Take A While To Find Out Your PCT Results?
When you ask for a PCT test, you will be instructed to get a blood sample test. The test will be performed in the hospital. You don’t require any sort of preparation for this test.
A professional will come and take a sample of your blood from your any of your arm vein. Small needles are uses, and they are inserted into the veins to collect a small amount of blood in a vial or a small test tube. This test takes about five minutes. There are no risks involved regarding PCT.
And for the results, if you have a high procalcitonin level, you are likely contradicted with bacterial infections like sepsis or meningitis. The higher the level of procalcitonin, the severe the infection. After being treated for the infection, taking the test can show you if the treatment works for you.
The tests might not be as precise as others, but they do help you note down your procalcitonin levels. After you submit the blood samples, they will run the tests and that will take about 2 hours. So, you will get your results in about 3 to 4 hours.
Conclusion
If the value of PCT is lesser than 0.50ng/ml, then you are not at risk, and it is the healthy level of PCT in your blood. But if the value is greater than 2.00ng/ml, you are at high risk of sepsis.
Make sure you use a clean vial and collect a fresh sample. Submit the sample before at least four hours for precise results.
References
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0168475
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An important discussion on the evaluation of PCT levels to gauge the severity of bacterial infections. Well written and informative.
The importance of timely testing and interpretation of results for PCT levels is highlighted.
The detailed information provided gives a clear insight into the PCT test and its significance.
The article emphasizes the critical role of PCT to ascertain the probability of sepsis effectively.
Absolutely, it seems to be a valuable tool in managing sepsis cases.
The emphasis on timely testing and result interpretation is insightful.
This seems like a life-saving test for someone with severe symptoms. The quick turnaround time is impressive.
Absolutely, the speed at which the results are available can make a significant difference in treatment.
Understanding the implications of PCT levels in detecting sepsis is crucial for timely intervention.
The complexity of sepsis and the role of PCT in monitoring it is well explained here. Very helpful information indeed.
Agreed, this article certainly provides comprehensive insights about the PCT test.
This article provides a deep understanding of the PCT test and its significance in evaluating sepsis risk.
While the details are informative, the time it takes to obtain results could be a concern in emergency situations.
Valid point. The test is valuable, but quick result availability would enhance its effectiveness.
Perhaps advancements can be made to expedite the results without compromising accuracy.
An incredibly informative piece. This test seems like an important way to check for a severe bacterial infection.
Fully agree, it’s good to know about a test that could be so important!