As a Novel Procalcitonin Assay is Architect B∙R∙A∙H∙M∙S PCT; Comparison of Two Commercial Systems

Procalcitonin (PCT) is the precursor structure of the calcitonin hormone with 116 amino acids. The measurement of serum procalcitonin is currently being safely used in community-acquired pneumonia, bacterial peritonitis and sepsis in the diagnosis, decision on the initiation of treatment, and follow-up of the response to treatment. In this study, it is aimed to compare PCT results obtained by the VIDAS PCT that makes measurements by the enzyme-dependent fluorescence (ELFA) method and Architect PCT method, a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) that has just been put into use, both of which are B∙R∙A∙H∙M∙S licensed and have method differences.

Serum samples of 109 patients from different clinics with a PCT request were included in the study. The sera were divided into two groups and the samples were immediately studied with two methods. Cohen's Kappa (κ) coefficient was used to determine concordance between the two methods. Other parameters were analyzed by the paired t-test, and their concordance was evaluated.

In the concordance analysis study carried out by considering the significant cutoff value of 0.5 ng/mL in the clinical diagnosis of bacterial infections, the κ value was found to be 0.930, p < 0.001. Concordance was at an excellent level. Upon pairing and analyzing all the results regardless of the cutoff value, the Concordance Coefficient was found to be 0.958 (p < 0.001). It was observed that concordance was at an excellent level.

Upon comparing the patient results obtained as a result of the study, it was observed that the concordance of the methods with each other was excellent. Larger and more comprehensive studies on this issue will be helpful.