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Test Code N Terminal pro B Natriuretic Peptide NT Pro BNP

Important Note

This test is performed at Dr. Phillips Hospital, Health Central Hospital, Horizon West Hospital, Lake Mary FSED, Randal Park FSED, and Reunion village FSED. Please check with your Laboratory for approximate Turn Around Time. 

ORMC sends this test to Mayo Clinic Laboratories. See Mayo Test Code PBNP1

Department

Chemistry

Specimen Type

Plasma or Serum

Container

Lithium Heparin (green top), No additive with gel (gold top)

Standard Volume

3.0ml

Minimum Volume

3.0ml

Ship Temperature

Refrigerated

Stability Refrigerated

3 Days

Stability Room Temp

3 Days

Stability Frozen

12 months

CPT Code

83880

Days Test Set Up

Monday through Sunday

Group Components

NTproBNP

Clinical Information

B-type natriuretic peptide (brain natriuretic peptide: BNP) is a small, ringed peptide secreted by the heart to regulate blood pressure and fluid balance. This peptide is stored in and secreted predominantly from membrane granules in the heart ventricles in a pro form (proBNP). Once released from the heart in response to ventricle volume expansion or pressure overload, the N-terminal (NT) piece of 76 amino acids (NT-proBNP) is rapidly cleaved by the enzymes corin and furin to release the active 32-amino acid peptide (BNP).

Both BNP and NT-proBNP are markers of atrial and ventricular distension due to increased intracardiac pressure. The New York Heart Association (NYHA) developed a 4-stage functional classification system for congestive heart failure (CHF) based on the severity of the symptoms. Studies have demonstrated that the measured concentrations of circulating BNP and NT-proBNP increase with the severity of CHF based on the NYHA classification

Test Use

Used as a tool in the diagnosis of congestive heart failure (CHF)

Cautions

Lack of elevations have been reported if CHF is very acute (first hour) or with ventricular inflow obstruction (hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, mitralstenosis, atrial myxoma).