Test Overview
Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay
An aid in in the diagnosis and assessment of severity of congestive heart failure. Both BNP and NT-proBNP are markers of atrial and ventricular distension due to increased intracardiac pressure. Both markers increase in circulating concentration as the severity of heart failure increases, making them equally good markers of the functional stage of heart failure. NT-proBNP is a larger molecule and has a longer half-life that BNP, so its concentration in serum during heart failure will be considerably higher than that of BNP. NT-proBNP is more stable than BNP, so no special precautions such as keeping the sample on ice prior to analysis is required. Also, NT-proBNP is the appropriate assay for those patients being treated with the drug Entresto. This drug is an inhibitor of the protease that degrades the active hormone BNP and thus prolongs its half-life. Patients receiving this drug should be monitored with the NT-proBNP assay to get an accurate assessment of the severity of their heart failure.
Age 0-75 years: <125 pg/mL; age >75 years: <450 pg/mL.
* Reference ranges may change over time. Please refer to the original patient report when evaluating results.
Test Details
2 hours
- N Terminal proBNP
- ProBNP (B-Type Natriuretic Peptide)
Specimen Requirements
Collect specimen in an SST or red top tube. Centrifuge, aliquot serum into a plastic vial and refrigerate.
Additional Information
This is the comment for @PB50 for patients over 50 yrs.
a. Prediction of Acute Congestive Heart Failure
NT-proBNP values less than 300 pg/mL have a 99% negative
predictive value for excluding acute congestive heart failure.
NT-proBNP values greater than 1200 pg/mL for patients with an
eGFR<60 have high sensitivity and specificity for acute congestive
heart failure. A diagnostic NT-proBNP cutoff of 900 pg/mL has
been suggested in adults 50-75 years in the absence of renal
failure.(see policy link https://michmed-clinical.policystat.com/policy/token_access/e18d1b71-14… )
b. Detection of early stages of heart failure (A, B)
NT-proBNP values greater than 125 pg/ml in people with
diabetes 50 years and older or NT-proBNP values greater
than 450 pg/ml in people 75 years and older have high
sensitivity and specificity to detect earlier stages (A, B)
heart failure and guide specific management to prevent
progression to acute heart failure.
This is the comment for @ PB for patients less than 50 yrs.
NT-proBNP values less than 300 pg/mL have a 99% negative
predictive value for excluding acute congestive heart failure.
NT-proBNP values greater than 1200 pg/mL for patients with
an eGFR<60 have high sensitivity and specificity for acute
congestive heart failure. NT-proBNP values greater than
450 pg/mL are consistent with CHF in adults under 50 years
of age.