Establishment of reference intervals for procalcitonin in healthy pregnant women of Chinese population

Objective: To establish reference intervals (RIs) for procalcitonin (PCT) in healthy pregnant women of Chinese population. Methods: Serum PCT levels were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) in 1246 healthy Chinese women, including 124 cases in the first trimester, 128 cases in the second trimester, 125 cases in the third trimester, 125 cases of vaginal delivery, 124 cases at the 3rd day after vaginal delivery, 122 cases at the 10th day after vaginal delivery, 126 cases with Cesarean delivery, 126 cases at the 3rd day after Cesarean delivery, 124 cases at the 10th day after Cesarean delivery, and 122 cases involving non-pregnant women. All cases were independent. The RIs for PCT were defined using nonparametric 95% intervals. Results: The RIs for PCT were 0.018-0.051 mu g/L for the first and second trimester; 0.020-0.152 mu g/L for the third trimester; 0.022-0.195 mu g/L for vaginal delivery; 0.019-0.021 mu g/L for Cesarean delivery; 0.049-5.537 mu g/L and 0.020-0.148 mu g/L for 3rd and 10th days after vaginal delivery, respectively; 0.022-0.724 mu g/L and 0.024-0.129 mu g/L for the 3rd and 10th days after Cesarean delivery, respectively; and 0.015-0.061 mu g/L for non-pregnant healthy women. Conclusion: The RIs for PCT in pregnant women by trimester, days postpartum, and mode of delivery were established, thus providing a clinical reference for doctors. (C) 2016 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.