South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde
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It has recently been suggested that procalcitonin (PCT) is of value in the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis, with varying results. This study was to evaluate the role of PCT as a single early marker of neonatal sepsis. ⋯ Although PCT was significantly related to the category of infection, it is not sufficiently reliable to be the sole marker of neonatal sepsis. PCT would be useful as part of a full sepsis evaluation, but is relatively expensive. A negative PCT on presentation may rule out sepsis, but this needs to be evaluated further.