Turnaround times
The quoted turnaround time is from sample receipt in the laboratory, to results authorisation in the Laboratory Information Management system. The times do not include transport of specimen to the laboratory or the administrative process to print and post/email reports. Service users must allow for transport and reporting time when ordering tests.
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. 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.
Specimen container paediatric:
Serum (SST or plain tube)
Specimen container adult:
Serum (SST or plain tube)
Minimum volume paediatric:
0.5 mL
Minimum volume adult:
1 mL
Sample stability:
Unseparated sample: 2 days
Separated sample: 3 days at 15 to 25°C, 6 days at 2 to 8°C, 24 months at -20°C
Interpretation:
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 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
Other info:
Lithium heparin and EDTA plasma samples also acceptable