Determination of procalcitonin and C-reactive protein in neonatal sepsis and its clinical significance

Objective To explore the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) for neonatal sepsis. Methods 23 serum samples of neonatal sepsis were measured for PCT by semi-quantitative solid-phase immunochromatography and CRP by immunoturbdimetry assay and was tested for comparison white blood cell count(WBC). Results PCT and CRP had higher sensitivity than WBC (P0.05). PCT had highest sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy and youden's index for diagnosing neonatal sepsis. There was positive correlation between PCT and CRP. Conclusions Determination of PCT and CRP is valuable for the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis.