Automated Blood Test for Congestive Heart Failure

A fully automated blood test for pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is for use in diagnosing congestive heart failure (CHF). The test has been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

With the new test, laboratories can have results ready to report to doctors in as few as 18 minutes, using an automated platform that reduces technologist time and minimizes human errors. In addition, this new test, called Elecsys proBNP assay, gives the doctor an accurate reading of elevated BNP without interference from certain drug therapies. With its electrochemiluminescence technology, the assay provides linear results over a broad measuring range (5-35,000 pg/ml), reducing costly and time-consuming repeats. The assay is the product of Roche Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)

BNP, secreted by the left ventricle when the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently, dilates blood vessels and promotes sodium and water loss, reducing fluid load on the heart. Synthetic BNP (nesiritide) is a treatment for heart failure. Thus, measuring BNP does not necessarily allow a doctor to differentiate between elevated BNP levels due to drug treatment and elevated levels due to ventricular dysfunction. The new assay measures N-terminal proBNP, released when BNP is cleaved from its precursor, ProBNP. Elevated plasma NT-proBNP indicates the presence of heart failure and provides information about its severity.




Related Links:
Roche Diagnostics