Troponin I Rapid Test

The heart's muscles contain a protein called Troponin I. Typically, Troponin levels are not detected in the blood. Instead, Troponin I is released into the bloodstream when the heart muscles are hurt or damaged. When a patient is thought to have suffered a heart attack, doctors frequently test Troponin levels multiple times over 24 hours.

Testing may also be required to examine heart trauma connected to specific medical procedures. The most frequent prescription of this test is to identify heart attacks. Angina, a disorder that restricts blood flow to the heart and causes chest pain, is occasionally detected with this technique. Angina sometimes leads to a heart attack.

Your doctor can also order this test if you experience severe chest pain radiating to the jaw, arms, back, neck, and shoulder, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, palpitations, excessive sweating, lightheadedness and panic attacks. A blood sample is needed for this Troponin test, normally carried out in an emergency room, hospital, or other similar medical facilities. This test is rapid and gives results within a short while, so helps physicians to take action on an early basis.

Acute coronary syndrome and ST-elevation myocardial infarction are currently the most common causes of cardiovascular deaths in India.

Other Names of Troponin I Rapid Test

• cTnI
• Cardiac Troponin-I
• trop-I

What does the test detect/measure, and who is this prescribed for?

Troponin I rapid test detects the presence of troponin I in blood within a few minutes. Troponin I is a protein found in the heart's muscles. Normal blood Troponin levels are almost undetectable. However, when the heart muscles are harmed or damaged, there is a change. Within two to three hours of the start of a heart attack, Troponin levels usually rise. A silent heart attack can be fatal if not diagnosed and managed correctly on time. After surgery that can affect the heart, patients may also need a TroponinI test.

Your doctor may prescribe a Troponin test for the following conditions:

1. Before the medical procedure and repeating Troponin testing after the process is finished if you are at a high risk of heart injury during surgery.
2. If you've had heart attack symptoms, your doctor could advise you to have a TroponinI rapid test to confirm it.

Your doctor would typically order a Troponin I test as part of your medical examination if you are showing symptoms of a potential heart attack in a hospital or emergency department.

If you experience heart attack symptoms, you should seek medical attention. The following are typical signs and symptoms of a heart attack:

• Severe chest discomfort extending to the jaw, arms, back, neck and shoulder
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Palpitations
• Difficulty breathing
• Heavy sweating
• Panic attacks

The results of a Troponin test are based on the analysis of a blood sample.

Test Preparation

A Troponin test is usually done in an emergency setup or a hospital. This test is followed by high sensitive Troponin I test, which can be done multiple times in 24 hours to monitor the sharp changes in Troponin levels over time. A medical practitioner will use a tiny needle to draw blood from a vein in your arm.

When the needle enters or exits, you can experience a slight sting. Usually, the test takes only a few minutes.

Test inclusions: What parameters are included?

Troponin I rapid test parameter is the level of Troponin I proteins in the blood, which is released in the blood circulation due to heart injury.

Acute coronary syndrome (conditions occur due to sudden reduction or blockage of blood to the heart), Heart attack, Unstable angina(a condition where the heart doesn't get enough oxygen)

As this is a qualitative test, there are no specific ranges. The results only show positive or negative results, indicating if Troponin I is present or not in blood.

The Troponin rapid test is either positive or negative.

A confirmed positive Troponin I Rapid Test indicates the presence of troponin I in the blood. The presence of troponin confirms damage to heart muscles due to heart attacks.

A negative Troponin I Rapid Test indicates the absence of troponin I in the blood.

Your doctor may want to investigate further by prescribing other tests like ECG, creatine kinase, 2D echo, complete blood count, lactate dehydrogenase, renal function tests and vitamin B12 assays to find the cause of acute coronary syndrome or heart attack.