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Synonyms |
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N-terminal
pro-b-type natriuretic peptide
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Clinical
Indications |
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Pro
B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is released from the cardiac
ventricles in response to stretching of the chamber and is
cleaved to form biologically active BNP and N-terminal pro-BNP
(NT-proBNP). The assay used at Basildon measures NT-proBNP.
It has been introduced to 'rule-out' suspected heart failure
and help select patients requiring cardiac imaging. It is
important that it is only requested in patients meeting
specific criteria (see below), otherwise many 'false positive'
results may be generated which will need follow-up cardiac
imaging.
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Request Form |
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Combined Pathology Blood form
(Yellow/Black)
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Availability |
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Analysed by referral laboratory
if specific criteria met.
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Specific
Criteria |
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BNP
analyses is only available for investigation of new cases
of suspected heart failure. ECG and chest X-ray should have
been undertaken and anaemia, renal, liver and thyroid
dysfunction excluded.
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Turnaround
Time |
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2 days
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Specimen |
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Serum
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Volume |
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2 ml
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Container |
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Yellow top (SST) tube
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Lab. Handling |
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(BNP
& analyse; NOBNP & save)
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Causes for
Rejection |
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Unlabelled sample.
Not using BNP request form or indicating that the patient
meets the specific criteria for BNP requesting.
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Reference
Range |
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A negative NT-proBNP (< 300 ng/L
<75 years age and < 450 ng/L if 75 years age or over) has a very high negative predictive value (>98%)
and virtually excludes left ventricular systolic dysfunction.
A positive NT-proBNP indicates the need for further
investigation including echocardiography.
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