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Sepsis is a severe illness characterized by a systemic, whole-body response to infection and is a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. Differentiation of sepsis from systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) early in presentation is imperative to facilitate appropriate therapy.
Tests generally appear in the order most useful for common clinical situations
| Test name: CBC with Platelet Count & Automated Differential |
| ARUP #: 0040003 |
| Methodology: Automated Cell Count with Flow Cell Differential |
| Use: Initial testing to help differentiate bacterial from viral etiology |
| Test name: Electrolyte Panel |
| ARUP #: 0020410 |
| Methodology: Quantitative Ion-Selective Electrode/Enzymatic |
| Use: Evaluate presence of electrolyte imbalance |
| Test name: Renal Function Panel |
| ARUP #: 0020144 |
| Methodology: Refer to individual components |
| Use: Evaluate presence of organ dysfunction |
| Test name: Hepatic Function Panel |
| ARUP #: 0020416 |
| Methodology: Refer to individual components. |
| Use: Evaluate presence of hepatic dysfunction |
| Test name: C-Reactive Protein |
| ARUP #: 0050180 |
| Methodology: Quantitative Immunoturbidimetric |
| Use: May be helpful in evaluation of sepsis |
| Limitations: Normal CRP does not rule out sepsis |
| Test name: Cell Count, Body Fluid |
| ARUP #: 0095019 |
| Methodology: Cell Count/Differential |
| Use: Test of choice for differential diagnosis on synovial fluid aspirate |
| Test name: Blood Culture |
| ARUP #: 0060102 |
| Methodology: Continuous Monitoring Blood Culture/Identification |
| Use: Evaluate presence of infection |
| Limitations: Testing is limited to the University of Utah Health Sciences Center only |
| Test name: Wound Culture (Includes Gram Stain 0060101) |
| ARUP #: 0060132 |
| Methodology: Standard reference procedures for bacterial stain, aerobic culture, and identification. Anaerobe Culture is performed on properly collected specimens (Anaerobe culture 0060143). |
| Use: Evaluate for organism as etiology of infected wound |
| Test name: CSF Bacterial Culture (Includes Gram Stain 0060101) |
| ARUP #: 0060106 |
| Methodology: Standard reference procedures for bacterial stain, aerobic culture, and identification |
| Use: Evaluate for CNS infection |
| Test name: Procalcitonin |
| ARUP #: 0020763 |
| Methodology: Immunofluorescent |
| Use: May be useful marker for sepsis detection Most useful in predicting progression of infection to severe sepsis or septic shock |
| Limitations: May not be elevated in severe local infection May be elevated in other conditions such as burns, trauma and extensive surgery |
| Test name: Body Fluid Culture (Includes Gram Stain 0060101) |
| ARUP #: 0060108 |
| Methodology: Standard reference procedures for bacterial stain, aerobic culture, and identification. Anaerobe culture performed on properly collected specimens |
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