Browse Medical Laboratory Calculators
Procalcitonin (PCT) Unit Converter
Procalcitonin (PCT) is the prohormone of calcitonin. In healthy individuals, it is typically undetectable. However, during systemic bacterial infection and sepsis, PCT levels rise rapidly (within 3-6 hours).
Clinically, PCT is the leading biomarker for the diagnosis of **sepsis** and is widely used in **Antibiotic Stewardship Programs** to guide the initiation and duration of antibiotic therapy. This converter facilitates switching between the standard mass units (ng/mL, μg/L) used in clinical protocols.
Standard Mass Units
Most CommonNanograms per milliliter (Numerically equivalent to μg/L).
Other Equivalents
Clinical Context (Sepsis)
Reference Values & Interpretation:
• < 0.1 ng/mL: Normal. Bacterial infection unlikely.
• 0.1 – 0.25 ng/mL: Low likelihood of bacterial infection. Antibiotics typically not encouraged.
• 0.25 – 0.5 ng/mL: Possible bacterial infection. Clinical correlation advised.
• > 0.5 ng/mL: Suggests bacterial infection/sepsis. Antibiotics encouraged.
• > 2.0 ng/mL: High risk of severe sepsis or septic shock.
Conversion Logic:
1 ng/mL = 1 μg/L.
1 ng/mL = 1,000 ng/L.
Clinical References
How to Use This Converter
Follow these steps to normalize PCT values for sepsis protocols.
Enter Values
Input your laboratory results into the corresponding unit field (e.g., ng/mL).
Automatic Conversion
The calculator instantly updates all other fields. For PCT, ng/mL and μg/L will always show the same value.
Check Cut-offs
Compare the result with the standard sepsis cut-off values (e.g., 0.5 ng/mL) listed in the Clinical Context section.
Reset
Use the Clear button to reset all fields.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. 1 ng/mL = 1 μg/L. These are the two most common units used in sepsis protocols.
Yes. In patients with CKD, baseline PCT levels may be slightly higher (0.5 – 1.5 ng/mL) even without infection due to reduced clearance.