Newcastle Laboratories

Troponin T, serum

Clinical Background:

Troponin T (TnT) is a component of the contractile apparatus of the striated musculature. Although the function of TnT is the same in all striated muscles, TnT originating exclusively from the myoc...

Troponin T (TnT) is a component of the contractile apparatus of the striated musculature. Although the function of TnT is the same in all striated muscles, TnT originating exclusively from the myocardium (cardiac TnT, molecular weight 39.7 kD) clearly differs from skeletal muscle TnT. As a result of its high tissue-specificity, cardiac troponin T (cTnT) is a cardio-specific, highly sensitive marker for myocardial damage. Cardiac troponin T increases approx. 3-4 hours after myocardial infarction (AMI) and may persist up to 2 weeks thereafter. In contrast to ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the diagnosis of non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) heavily relies on cardiac troponin result. Cardiac troponin T (cTnT) is an independent prognostic marker which can predict the near-, mid- and even long-term outcome of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). In addition, 4 multicenter trials involving more than 7000 patients have shown that cardiac troponin T is also useful to identify patients that benefit from anti-thrombotic therapy (GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors, low molecular weight heparin).

Cardiac troponin is also the preferred marker of myocardial injury in the new guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes.

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Test Documents

Test Details

  • Discipline:

    Biochemistry

    Biochemistry

  • Specimen Container Adult:

    Serum (SST or plain tube)

    Serum (SST or plain tube)

  • Specimen Container Paediatric:

    Serum (SST or plain tube)

    Serum (SST or plain tube)

  • Minimum Volume Adult:

    1 mL blood

    1 mL blood

  • Minimum Volume Paediatric:

    0.5 mL blood

    0.5 mL blood

  • Sample Stability:

    Unseparated sample: day of collection

    Separated sample:

    - 1 day at 15-25C

    - 7 days at 2-8C

    - 3 months at -20C

     

    Unseparated sample: day of collection

    Separated sample:

    - 1 day at 15-25C

    - 7 days at 2-8C

    - 3 months at -20C

     

  • Interpretation:

     Refer to attached documents

     Refer to attached documents

  • Reference Ranges:

    Adult: <12 ng/L

     

    Adult: <12 ng/L

     

  • Other Info:

    Lithium heparin plasma samples also acceptable

    Lithium heparin plasma samples also acceptable

  • Routine Contact Name:

    Duty biochemist

  • Routine Telephone:

    Freeman: 0191 244 8889

    RVI: 0191 282 9719

    Freeman: 0191 244 8889

    RVI: 0191 282 9719

  • Routine Email:

Availability:

24/7, analysed at RVI and Freeman

Turn Around:

Urgent: within 1 hour

Non-urgent: within 4 hours

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