Table 3. Causes of false-positive and false-negative PCT results.

False-positive

Acute respiratory distress syndrome

Multiple organ failure

Systemic fungal infections

Part of viral infections

Severe trauma

Severe burns

Surgical trauma

Cardiac shock

Renal failure

Patients with medullary thyroid cancer, small cell lung cancer with paraneoplastic hormone production

Inflammation associated with cytokine storms

False-negative

Early course of infection

Localized infection

Subacute endocarditis

PCT, procalcitonin.