Troponin T and troponin I proteins are released into the blood when there is an injury to the heart muscle, like during a heart attack, for example. A troponin test is often ordered to assess the amount of troponin proteins to investigate for heart injury.
In healthy people, the troponin test normally will usually be negative or non-reactive, meaning there are no troponin proteins in the blood. Normal troponin values can vary depending on the test performed by the laboratory, but are generally less than 0.04 ng/mL for troponin I and 0.01 ng/mL for troponin T.
In some cases, this exam may also be ordered with other blood tests, like myoglobin or creatine phosphokinase (CPK test), to diagnose heart problems.
Normal levels
Normal troponin values in a healthy person are generally:
- Troponin I: 0.0 to 0.04 ng/mL
- Troponin T: 0.0 to 0.01 ng/mL
However, reference values may vary depending on the test performed by the laboratory.
What results mean
Troponin levels in healthy people are usually negative or non-reactive, as the amount of proteins released into the blood is very low, and is either miniscule or not detected at all. If the result is negative 12 to 18 hours after heart pain, it is unlikely that the pain was related to a heart attack, and that is it related to other causes such as excess gas or digestive problems. Learn more about the other causes of heart pain and when to go to a hospital.
However, when the result is positive, it may indicate an injury or change in cardiac functioning and although very high values generally occur when there is a heart attack, intermediate values may indicate other problems such as:
- Very fast heartbeat
- High blood pressure in the lungs
- Pulmonary embolism
- Congestive heart failure
- Inflammation of the heart muscle
- Trauma caused by traffic accidents
- Chronic kidney disease
Troponin values in the blood remain abnormal for around 10 days after heart injurt and can be evaluated over time to ensure that the injury is being treated correctly.
Common uses
The troponin test is normally ordered by the doctor when there is a suspicion of a heart attack, like when the patient presents with severe chest pain, difficulty breathing or tingling in the left arm appear. In these cases, the exam is usually repeated 3 and 6 hours after the first test. Learn more about the symptoms of a heart attack.
Troponin is the main biochemical marker used to confirm a heart attack. Its concentration in the blood begins to rise 4 to 8 hours after the heart attack and returns to normal levels after about 10 days. Despite being the main marker of heart attack, troponin is normally measured together with other markers, such as CK-MB and myoglobin.
The troponin test may also be requested due to other causes of heart damage, like cases of angina that worsen over time.
Is preparation necessary for the exam?
For this type of clinical analysis, no preparation, like fasting or avoiding medications, is necessary.
What results mean
Troponin levels in healthy people are usually negative or non-reactive, as the amount of proteins released into the blood is very low, and is either miniscule or not detected at all. If the result is negative 12 to 18 hours after heart pain, it is unlikely that the pain was related to a heart attack, and that is it related to other causes such as excess gas or digestive problems. Learn more about the other causes of heart pain and when to go to a hospital.
However, when the result is positive, it may indicate an injury or change in cardiac functioning and although very high values generally occur when there is a heart attack, intermediate values may indicate other problems such as:
- Very fast heartbeat
- High blood pressure in the lungs
- Pulmonary embolism
- Congestive heart failure
- Inflammation of the heart muscle
- Trauma caused by traffic accidents
- Chronic kidney disease
Troponin values in the blood remain abnormal for around 10 days after heart injurt and can be evaluated over time to ensure that the injury is being treated correctly.
