Sepsis claims more than eleven million lives each year, roughly one in five global deaths. Survival hinges on recognising infection fast, yet conventional laboratory panels can take hours. Vitrosens’ CRP/PCT Combo Fluorescent Immunoassay (FIA) condenses two high-value biomarkers into one near-patient cassette, providing quantitative results in just 15 minutes from whole blood, serum, or plasma. The rapid turnaround empowers clinicians to launch time-critical sepsis bundles, tailor antibiotics intelligently, and reduce unnecessary antimicrobial exposure.
Why Combine CRP and PCT?
Biomarker |
Response Profile |
Clinical Value |
C-Reactive Protein (CRP) |
Rises within ~6 hours; peaks at 24–48 h |
Highly sensitive indicator of systemic inflammation (bacterial or viral) |
Procalcitonin (PCT) |
Detectable as early as 2–4 hours; rises continuously during bacterial infection |
High specificity for bacterial infection; correlates with severity |
CRP and PCT are both valuable biomarkers on their own, but when used together, they offer significantly enhanced diagnostic power. CRP provides broad sensitivity by detecting general inflammatory responses, while PCT offers higher specificity for bacterial infections, particularly in cases of sepsis. This complementary relationship allows clinicians to identify both the presence and nature of an infection more accurately. Studies have shown that combining CRP and PCT improves overall diagnostic accuracy and increases the negative predictive value compared to using either marker alone. As a result, the dual-biomarker approach enables more confident rule-out decisions, especially in emergency settings where time and precision are critical.
Intended Use
The CRP/PCT Fast Test Kit (Immunofluorescence Assay) is intended for the in-vitro quantitative determination of procalcitonin and C-reactive protein in serum, plasma, or whole blood. Combined measurement supports:
- Rapid differentiation between bacterial and viral infection
- Early assessment of infection severity
- Informed, patient-specific antibiotic decisions
Specifications at a Glance
Parameter |
Specification |
Clinical Relevance |
Sample Types |
Whole Blood / Serum / Plasma |
Venous collection, no centrifugation needed for WB |
Time to Result |
15 minutes |
Compatible with “golden hour” sepsis pathways |
Methodology |
Quantitative Fluorescent Immunoassay |
Higher sensitivity and precision than colourimetric LFAs |
Storage |
4 – 30 °C (no cold chain) |
Simplifies inventory across varied climates |
Shelf Life |
24 months |
Reduced wastage, streamlined procurement |
Clinical and Operational Impact
- Emergency Department Triage – CRP/PCT numbers in 15 minutes enable immediate risk stratification and earlier antibiotic start when indicated.
- ICU Monitoring – Serial combo testing tracks therapeutic response; falling PCT can justify early de-escalation of antibiotics.
- Antibiotic Stewardship – PCT-guided algorithms routinely shorten therapy by 1–2 days without raising relapse risk—cutting drug cost and resistance pressure.
- Resource-Limited Settings – Room-temperature storage and finger-stick compatibility bring high-level sepsis diagnostics to sites lacking full labs.
Conclusion
When every minute counts, Vitrosens’ CRP/PCT Combo FIA delivers two decisive biomarkers from a single cassette, shaving hours off diagnostic delay. By pairing broad inflammatory sensitivity with bacterial specificity, the test equips clinicians to initiate or withhold antibiotics confidently, saving lives today while preserving antimicrobial efficacy for tomorrow.
Ready to incorporate dual-biomarker testing into your sepsis pathway? Contact the Vitrosens team to request evaluation kits or technical support.
Key References
- World Health Organization. Sepsis Fact Sheet.
- World Sepsis Day. Global Sepsis Alliance Resources.
- Li Z et al. “Diagnostic accuracy of procalcitonin and C-reactive protein for sepsis.” Crit Care.
- Papp M et al. “Procalcitonin-guided antibiotic therapy: systematic review.” 2024.
- Vitrosens Biotechnology. PCT/CRP Fast Test Kit—Technical Manual.
