Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the process involved in assessing Cardiac markers?

Cardiac markers assays require a sample of blood. The standard vein puncture procedure is done to obtain blood. Apply pressure to the puncture site until the bleeding stops so as to reduce bruising.

2. Do I have to fast before testing for cardiac markers?

Except for Homocysteine tests, the patient need not fast prior to the test for cardiac markers.

3. Are there any risks associated with cardiac marker tests?

No. There are no known complications.

4. How often should I test for cardiac markers?

The New England Journal of Medicine April 20, 2000 reported that on a yearly basis, doctors miss heart attacks in 2.1% of emergency room patients . This can be prevented by more widespread use of the rapid cardiac marker tests as screening devices might. Periodical testing is recommended for every patient at high-risk for an acute coronary event.

5. Are tests for cardiac markers diagnostic?

The tests for cardiac markers have been proved to be a immense value in the early detection of a number of clinical conditions like acute coronary syndrome (ACS), acute myocardial infarction.

Published on Nov 11, 2010
Last Updated on Jul 04, 2018

Randox Monday, November 15, 2010

The ischemic biomarker Heart-type Fatty Acid Binding Protein [H-FABP] can substantially improve the detection of high risk patients when Troponin-negative, even when a high sensitivity assay is used, a new publication has shown. In the June edition of JACC, Professor Alistair Hall and colleagues from the University of Leeds, UK, prospectively studied a cohort of 1080 consecutive patients admitted to hospital with suspected ACS and compared the H-FABP assay (Randox Laboratories) with the high sensitivity Ultra-TnI assay (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics).