Medical abbreviation:
None
Type:
Blood test
Definition:
Troponin is an enzyme found in heart cells. Troponin is found in the blood stream in very small quantities; however levels are significantly raised when heart cells are damaged. Troponin levels are used to assess whether a patient has had a heart attack.
When would I need this test?
The blood test is requested when it may not be certain that a patient has had a heart attack when looking at their ECG findings. For accurate results the blood sample is usually taken 12 hours after the initial chest pain occurred.
