Catalogue Register

Newcastle Laboratories

BNP (NT-proBNP)

Clinical Background:

NT-proBNP can be used in the assessment of heart failure. It is secreted mainly by the ventricle and in this process is cleaved into physiologically active BNP and the N-terminal fragment NT-proBNP...

NT-proBNP can be used in the assessment of heart failure. It is secreted mainly by the ventricle and in this process is cleaved into physiologically active BNP and the N-terminal fragment NT-proBNP. The concentration of NT-proBNP in serum correlates with the prognosis of left ventricular dysfunction with levels increasing as dysfunction progresses.

Left ventricular dysfunction can occur as part of coronary artery disease, arterial hypertension, vascular disease and primary myocardial damage. If this dysfunction remains untreated and is progressive, the potential for mortality is high, for example due to sudden cardiac death.

NT-proBNP levels reflect the severity of cardiac impairment and the high sensitivity of the analyte also allows detection of mild forms of cardiac dysfunction in asymptomatic patients with structural heart disease.

Read More

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

    1 mL

  • Minimum Volume Paediatric:

    0.5 mL

    0.5 mL

  • Sample Stability:

    Unseparated sample: 2 days
    Separated sample: 3 days at 15-25°C, 6 days at 2-8°C, 24 months at -20°C

    Unseparated sample: 2 days
    Separated sample: 3 days at 15-25°C, 6 days at 2-8°C, 24 months at -20°C

  • Interpretation:

    24/7, analysed at RVI

    24/7, analysed at RVI

  • Reference Ranges:

    Sourced from: Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Guidelines for Management of Heart Failure. Guideline Number NoT 25 (2011).

    For adults:

    <60yrs                   Raised: greater than or e...

    Sourced from: Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Guidelines for Management of Heart Failure. Guideline Number NoT 25 (2011).

    For adults:

    <60yrs                   Raised: greater than or equal to 50ng/L

                                   High: greater than or equal to 450ng/L

     

    60-74yrs               Raised: greater than or equal to 100ng/L

                                   High: greater than or equal to 900ng/L

     

    ≥ 75yrs                 Raised: greater than or equal to 250ng/L

                                   High: greater than or equal to 1800ng/L

    Read More

  • Other Info:

    Lithium heparin and EDTA plasma samples also acceptable

    Lithium heparin and EDTA 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:

    nuth.dutybiochemist@nhs.net

Availability:

24/7, analysed at RVI

View all tests