Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPurpose of TestTypesNormal LevelsCauses of High TroponinAbout the Test
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Purpose of Test
Types
Normal Levels
Causes of High Troponin
About the Test
A check oftroponinlevels is done with a blood draw that checks how much of the protein troponin is circulating in the blood. More than 0.04 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) can indicate heart damage.The reading may vary, though, depending on the type of test being done.
A troponin test is used along with other tests to evaluate the likelihood of aheart attack. Your healthcare provider might order a troponin test for you if you experience symptoms such as sudden chest pain, chest tightness, orshortness of breath.
The test results generally come back fairly quickly. However, urgent treatment for a heart attack might need to be initiated even before the test results return.
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Troponin is a type of protein found in heart muscle but not typically found in the blood. However, when the heart is damaged, this protein is released into the bloodstream. Even a slight increase in your troponin level can signal some damage to the heart. Very high levels of troponin indicate that a heart attack has occurred.
You might have a troponin test if you have signs of a heart attack or severeheart failure. Sometimes, there are warnings (e.g., fatigue, chest tightness) in the months before a heart attack, but one can occur without any warning. A heart attack generally begins suddenly and worsens rapidly.
Circumstances that may indicate you need a troponin test include:
Types of Troponin Tests
There are two types of troponin that a blood test may check for to diagnose heart damage.
What Are Normal Troponin Levels?
Troponin levels are measured in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) or liter (ng/L). The range for normal and high levels will depend on the type of troponin measured and whether it is a regular test or a high-sensitivity cardiac troponin test.
High-Sensitivity TestThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first high-sensitivity version of the troponin test in 2017.This is now the more common type of test used since it can pick up smaller amounts of the protein than the previous tests.
High-Sensitivity Test
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first high-sensitivity version of the troponin test in 2017.This is now the more common type of test used since it can pick up smaller amounts of the protein than the previous tests.
Elevated levels of troponin for the various types and tests include:
An elevated troponin level is consistent with a heart attack and heart muscle damage. If you have a normal or undetectable troponin level, it may be repeated if there is a very high suspicion that you could be having a heart attack.
Causes of High Troponin Levels
A troponin level may be elevated within a few hours of a heart attack, and the level can remain high for up to two weeks after the event.
If you have had a high troponin level, your healthcare providers may repeat the test in a few hours or days to ensure that your level is going down, rather than up.
About Troponin Tests
A troponin level is obtained using a standard blood draw. It will likely be done at the same time as other tests to assess heart health.
Usually, the blood draw is done in a doctor’s office or lab or in the emergency room if you have gone there to seek help. In some circumstances, such as if you’re having a follow-up troponin test, you may have the test as an outpatient in a blood-testing center.
The results of your troponin test may be ready in just a few minutes. But it can take up to an hour, depending on the laboratory.
Other Tests to Evaluate Cardiac Health
Along with your troponin test, you are likely to have other tests that can help your healthcare providers know if you are having a heart attack.
If you have a high troponin level, your healthcare provider might initiate treatment for a heart attack. This may include:
Summary
You can ask your medical team what your troponin test results are, usually within an hour. If your healthcare provider is highly concerned, you might have a repeat troponin test within a few hours so your medical team can promptly identify changes in your level that may help guide your treatment plan.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Thawabi M, Hawatmeh A, Studyvin S, Habib H, Shamoon F, Cohen M.Cardiac troponin and outcome in decompensated heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.Cardiovasc Diagn Ther. 2017;7(4):359-366. doi:10.21037/cdt.2017.03.17El-Menyar A, Sathian B, Al-Thani H.Elevated serum cardiac troponin and mortality in acute pulmonary embolism: Systematic review and meta-analysis.Respir Med. 2019;157:26-35. doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2019.08.011University of California San Francisco Health.Troponin test.MedlinePlus.Troponin Test.Sandoval Y, Sharain K, Saenger AK, Smith SW, Apple FS, Jaffe AS.Clinical use of cardiac troponin for acute cardiac care and emerging opportunities in the outpatient setting.Minerva Med. 2019;110(2):139-156. doi:10.23736/S0026-4806.18.05874-3Association for Diagnostic & Laboratory Medicine.First High-Sensitivity Troponin Test Cleared for Use in the U.S.American Board of Internal Medicine.ABIM Laboratory Test Reference Ranges ̶ January 2024.UpToDate.Causes of elevated troponin.American College of Cardiology.A brief review of troponin testing for clinicians.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Heart attack.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Thawabi M, Hawatmeh A, Studyvin S, Habib H, Shamoon F, Cohen M.Cardiac troponin and outcome in decompensated heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.Cardiovasc Diagn Ther. 2017;7(4):359-366. doi:10.21037/cdt.2017.03.17El-Menyar A, Sathian B, Al-Thani H.Elevated serum cardiac troponin and mortality in acute pulmonary embolism: Systematic review and meta-analysis.Respir Med. 2019;157:26-35. doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2019.08.011University of California San Francisco Health.Troponin test.MedlinePlus.Troponin Test.Sandoval Y, Sharain K, Saenger AK, Smith SW, Apple FS, Jaffe AS.Clinical use of cardiac troponin for acute cardiac care and emerging opportunities in the outpatient setting.Minerva Med. 2019;110(2):139-156. doi:10.23736/S0026-4806.18.05874-3Association for Diagnostic & Laboratory Medicine.First High-Sensitivity Troponin Test Cleared for Use in the U.S.American Board of Internal Medicine.ABIM Laboratory Test Reference Ranges ̶ January 2024.UpToDate.Causes of elevated troponin.American College of Cardiology.A brief review of troponin testing for clinicians.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Heart attack.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Thawabi M, Hawatmeh A, Studyvin S, Habib H, Shamoon F, Cohen M.Cardiac troponin and outcome in decompensated heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.Cardiovasc Diagn Ther. 2017;7(4):359-366. doi:10.21037/cdt.2017.03.17El-Menyar A, Sathian B, Al-Thani H.Elevated serum cardiac troponin and mortality in acute pulmonary embolism: Systematic review and meta-analysis.Respir Med. 2019;157:26-35. doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2019.08.011University of California San Francisco Health.Troponin test.MedlinePlus.Troponin Test.Sandoval Y, Sharain K, Saenger AK, Smith SW, Apple FS, Jaffe AS.Clinical use of cardiac troponin for acute cardiac care and emerging opportunities in the outpatient setting.Minerva Med. 2019;110(2):139-156. doi:10.23736/S0026-4806.18.05874-3Association for Diagnostic & Laboratory Medicine.First High-Sensitivity Troponin Test Cleared for Use in the U.S.American Board of Internal Medicine.ABIM Laboratory Test Reference Ranges ̶ January 2024.UpToDate.Causes of elevated troponin.American College of Cardiology.A brief review of troponin testing for clinicians.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Heart attack.
Thawabi M, Hawatmeh A, Studyvin S, Habib H, Shamoon F, Cohen M.Cardiac troponin and outcome in decompensated heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.Cardiovasc Diagn Ther. 2017;7(4):359-366. doi:10.21037/cdt.2017.03.17
El-Menyar A, Sathian B, Al-Thani H.Elevated serum cardiac troponin and mortality in acute pulmonary embolism: Systematic review and meta-analysis.Respir Med. 2019;157:26-35. doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2019.08.011
University of California San Francisco Health.Troponin test.
MedlinePlus.Troponin Test.
Sandoval Y, Sharain K, Saenger AK, Smith SW, Apple FS, Jaffe AS.Clinical use of cardiac troponin for acute cardiac care and emerging opportunities in the outpatient setting.Minerva Med. 2019;110(2):139-156. doi:10.23736/S0026-4806.18.05874-3
Association for Diagnostic & Laboratory Medicine.First High-Sensitivity Troponin Test Cleared for Use in the U.S.
American Board of Internal Medicine.ABIM Laboratory Test Reference Ranges ̶ January 2024.
UpToDate.Causes of elevated troponin.
American College of Cardiology.A brief review of troponin testing for clinicians.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Heart attack.
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