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

Abstract 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 μg/L for the first and second trimester; 0.020–0.152 μg/L for the third trimester; 0.022–0.195 μg/L for vaginal delivery; 0.019–0.021 μg/L for Cesarean delivery; 0.049–5.537 μg/L and 0.020–0.148 μg/L for 3rd and 10th days after vaginal delivery, respectively; 0.022–0.724 μg/L and 0.024–0.129 μg/L for the 3rd and 10th days after Cesarean delivery, respectively; and 0.015–0.061 μg/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.