What is this test?
Troponin tests measure the level of cardiac-specific troponin in the blood to help detect heart injury or recent heart attack.
 
Sample required
Blood.
 
Patient preparation
No specific patient preparation protocol is required. Inform the doctor if you are on any medications, or have any allergies or underlying medical conditions before this test.
 
Turn-around time (How long does it take?)
5 Hours.
 
Basis of the Test
Troponins are a group of proteins found in skeletal and heart (cardiac) muscle fibers that regulate muscular contraction. Normally, troponin is present in very small to undetectable quantities in the blood. When there is damage to heart muscle cells, troponin is released into the blood. The more damage there is, the greater the concentration in the blood. Primarily, troponin tests are used to help determine if an individual has suffered a heart attack. They may also be helpful in evaluating someone for other forms of heart injury. When a person has a heart attack, levels of cardiac-specific troponins I and T can become elevated in the blood within 3 or 4 hours after injury and may remain elevated for 10 to 14 days.