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The troponin test measures the levels of one of two proteins, troponin T or troponin I, in a blood sample. These proteins are released when the heart muscle has been damaged, such as during a heart attack. The more damage there is to the heart, the greater the amount of troponin T and I there will be in the blood.
Alternative NamesTroponinI; TnI; TroponinT; TnT; Cardiac-specific troponin I; Cardiac-specific troponin T; cTnl; cTnT
How the test is performedBlood is typically drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The site is cleaned with germ-killing medicine (antiseptic). The health care provider wraps an elastic band around the upper arm to apply pressure to the area and make the vein swell with blood.
Next, the health care provider gently inserts a needle into the vein. The blood collects into an airtight vial or tube attached to the needle. The elastic band is removed from your arm.
Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.
The sample is sent to a laboratory where the levels of troponins are measured.
How to prepare for the testUsually, no special preparation is necessary.
How the test will feelWhen the needle is inserted to draw blood, you may feel moderate pain, or only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.
Why the test is performedThe most common reason to perform this test is to diagnose a heart attack. Your doctor will order this test if you have chest pain and signs of a heart attack. The test is usually repeated two more times over the next 12 to 16 hours.
Your doctor may also order this test if you have angina that is getting worse, but no signs of a heart attack.
The troponin test may also be done to help detect and evaluate other causes of heart injury.
The test may be done along with other cardiac marker tests, such as CPK isoenzymesor myoglobin.
Normal ValuesCardiac troponin levels are normally so low they cannot be detected with most blood tests.
Your test results are usually considered normal if the results are:
- Troponin I : less than 10 µg/L
- Troponin T : 0-0.1 µg/L
Normal troponin levels 12 hours after chest pain has started mean a heart attack is unlikely.
Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
What abnormal results meanAn increase in the troponin level, even a slight one, usually means there has been some damage to the heart. Significantly high levels of troponin are a sign that a heart attack has occurred.
Most patients who have had a heart attack have increased troponin levels within 6 hours. After 12 hours almost everyone who has had a heart attack will have raised levels.
Troponin levels may remain high for 1 to 2 weeks after a heart attack.
Increased troponin levels may also be due to:
- Abnormally high blood pressure in lung arteries (pulmonary hypertension)
- Blockage of a lung artery by a blood clot, fat, or tumor cells (pulmonary embolus)
- Coronary artery spasm
- Inflammation of the heart muscle usually due to a virus (myocarditis)
- Severe gastrointestinal bleeding
- Severely rapid heart beat (for example, due to supraventricular tachycardia)
- Strenuous exercise (for example, due to marathons or triathlons)
- Sudden worsening of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Trauma that injures the heart such as a car accident
- Weakening of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy)
- Increased troponin levels may also result from certain medical procedures such as:
- Cardiac angioplasty/stenting
- Heart defibrillation or electrical cardioversion(purposeful shocking of the heart by medical personnel)
- Open heart surgery
- Radiofrequency ablation of the heart
There is very little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others.
Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:
- Excessive bleeding
- Fainting or feeling light-headed
- Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
- Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
Increased troponin levels may also be seen in people with certain chronic health conditions such as heart failure, long-term kidney disease, and stable Heart disease. Increased levels in these and other conditions can be a sign that a patient is at increased risk for bad outcomes.
ReferencesAntman EM. ST-Elevation myocardial infarcation: management. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, eds. Libby: Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Saunders; 2007:chap 51.
Antman EM, Hand M, Armstrong PW, et al. 2007 Focused Update of the ACC/AHA 2004 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines: developed in collaboration With the Canadian Cardiovascular Society endorsed by the American Academy of Family Physicians: 2007 Writing Group to Review New Evidence and Update the ACC/AHA 2004 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction, Writing on Behalf of the 2004 Writing Committee. Circulation. 2008 Jan 15;117(2):296-329.
Brady WJ, Harrigan RA, Chan TC. Acute Coronary Syndrome. In: Marx JA, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2009:chap 76.
What else can I help you with?
What is a negative result for troponin test?
Troponin is a cardiac enzyme that your heart releases under stress.
What is a healthy troponin test result?
People without heart damage have troponin levels less than 0.5 ng/mL.
What color is the test tube top used for troponin testing?
The test tube top used for troponin testing is typically red or gold. This color coding helps to easily identify the specific test being performed.
What molecule does the trpT test detect?
strip test is related to throat for culture
How is troponin blood bottle?
Troponin is a protein found in cardiac muscle that is released into the bloodstream when the heart is damaged, such as during a heart attack. A troponin blood test measures the levels of this protein to help diagnose heart conditions. Elevated troponin levels indicate myocardial injury and can guide treatment decisions. The test is typically performed using a blood sample taken from a vein.
Which test s is used to assist the physician in evaluating a heart attack?
Troponin - this is an enzyme only found in heart muscle tissue. When damage occurs (as in a heart attack) the muscle will release troponin into the bloodstream.
What are troponin test use to assess?
There are 2 types of Troponin (Troponin T and Troponin I). These are proteins found in the heart muscle specifically. The levels go up if the heart muscle is injured.Both are used to diagnose Acute Myocardial Infarction (MI or Heart attack). More cardiac-specific than CPK or CK-MB. In other words, better test of heart injury than CPK or CK-MB.The level increases rapidly 3-12 h after MI, peaks at 24 h, and may stay elevated for several days (Troponin I 5-7 d, Troponin T up to 14 d). Serial testing recommended to rule in or rule out an MI after the onset of Chest pain.
What test is prescribed for elevated troponin levels?
When elevated troponin levels are detected, a healthcare provider typically prescribes a cardiac stress test or a coronary angiography to further evaluate the heart's function and blood flow. These tests help determine the underlying cause of the elevated troponin, which may indicate conditions like myocardial infarction or other forms of cardiac injury. Additional tests, such as an echocardiogram, may also be considered to assess heart structure and function.
Troponin tests are used to assess?
Troponin tests are ordered to evaluate someone who has chest pain to test for a heart attack or other damage to the heart. It is ordered when a person with a heart attack comes to the emergency room and are preformed every several hours.
Which lab test are ordered to assess heart damage?
ultrasound test can tell the heart how bad was damage after a heart attack
What is troponin blood test?
Troponin level is a type of blood test used to check for damage to the heart. It is a protein found inside the muscle cells in the heart and is not normally found in the blood stream. If the heart is damaged due to lack of blood flow or oxygen, the muscle cells of the heart begin to break down and release troponin into the blood stream. Since it is not normally found in the blood stream, if the laboratory detects troponin in your blood, it is likely that you have suffered some sort of damage to your heart muscle tissue and need further testing or therapy.
How long does a troponin test take?
Troponins tests require 5 mL of blood. Collection of the sample takes only a few minutes.
