The troponin test is an essential tool for assessing heart health, especially when a heart attack is suspected. By measuring the level of troponin, a protein released during damage to the heart muscle, this test helps doctors diagnose and monitor a variety of heart conditions.
A troponin test measures the troponin level in a sample of your blood. Troponin is a protein found in your heart muscle cells.
Normally, troponin levels in the blood are so low that only the most sensitive types of tests can measure them. But if your heart muscle is damaged, troponin enters your bloodstream, and your troponin levels in the blood will increase.
The troponin test is primarily used to help diagnose heart attacks. Heart attacks damage the heart by suddenly blocking the blood flow that brings oxygen to part of the heart muscle. Without oxygen from the blood, heart muscle cells die and release troponin.
Troponin test results can confirm heart muscle damage due to a heart attack. The more damage to the heart, the more troponin is released into the bloodstream. So measuring the amount of troponin in the blood can also help estimate how many parts of the heart have been damaged. Higher than normal levels of troponin can also be found in other conditions that can damage heart muscle.
Two types of troponin can be measured to diagnose heart damage. They are called troponin I and troponin T. The tests can measure either type.
Other names: cardiac troponin I (cTnI), cardiac troponin T (cTnT), cardiac troponin (cTn), troponin I, and heart-specific troponin T
A troponin test is primarily used to:
You may need a troponin test if you have symptoms of a heart attack. Symptoms may start slowly or suddenly. They can be mild or intense, and they can appear and go over several hours. They include:
If you have symptoms of a heart attack, call 911 immediately. Prompt medical attention could save your life.
You may also need a troponin test if you are having surgery that could affect your heart.
A health professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected in a test tube or vial. You may feel a slight prick when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
You do not need special preparations for a troponin test. But, if you are taking vitamin B7, also known as biotin, be sure to tell the health professional requesting your test. Biotin and supplements containing biotin can cause your troponin levels to appear lower than they actually are.
There is very little risk in taking a blood test. You may feel a slight pain or bruise where the needle was inserted, but most symptoms go away quickly.
To understand the results of a troponin test for chest pain and/or other symptoms of a heart attack, your provider will consider your symptoms, medical history, and the results of other tests.
In general:
Higher than normal levels of troponin don't always mean you've had a heart attack. They can be caused by unstable angina and many other conditions that can damage the heart, including:
If you have high troponin levels but your provider doesn't think you've had a heart attack, you may have further tests to find the cause.
If you have questions about your test results, talk to your provider.
Learn more about lab tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.
Troponin levels may continue to rise for about 24 hours after the onset of a heart attack. So, if your test results show high levels of troponin, you will likely be tested twice or more over a 24-hour period.
The results of these tests show how quickly your troponin level has increased and the highest level it has reached. This information helps estimate how much of your heart muscle is damaged and how well you could recover.