Procalcitonin (PCT) is increasingly used as a biomarker for bacterial infection and sepsis. While PCT may aid the early diagnosis of sepsis and guidance of antibiotic therapy, its utility in post-operative and surgical patients remains controversial. Surgeons often encounter patients with systemic inflammatory response (SIRS) or post-operative fever, and it remains unclear whether PCT can reliably differentiate infection from sterile inflammation. This review aims to explore the role and limitations of procalcitonin testing in post-operative patients and its implications for clinical decision making. A narrative review of literature was conducted, focussing on the use of PCT testing in surgical and post-operative patients. PCT is a useful biomarker in the early diagnosis of bacterial infection. Evidence suggests serial PCT measurements in post-operative patients is a valuable tool in differentiating between non-infectious and infectious causes of post-operative fever. However, PCT should be used in conjunction with clinical assessment and microbiology results to optimise clinical management and patient safety. PCT is a useful adjunct in the assessment of sepsis in surgical patients but should not replace clinical judgement. Surgeons should interpret and correlate PCT trends with medical history, physical examination and microbiological assessment. Further research is required to establish procedure-specific PCT thresholds and standardised protocols to optimise its application in general surgical practice. References: 1. Schuetz P, Albrich W, Mueller B. Procalcitonin for diagnosis of infection and guide to antibiotic decisions: past, present and future. BMC Med. 2011;9:107. Published 2011 Sep 22. doi:10.1186/1741-7015-9-107