BNP Test

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) test is a blood test that counts the protein called BNP produced by your heart and blood vessels. These protein levels are higher than normal when there is a heart failure. A B-type natriuretic peptide or brain natriuretic peptide or BNP is a 32-amino acid-ringed peptide produced by the heart to normalize blood pressure and fluid stability. BNP is stored in and secreted predominantly from membrane granules in the heart ventricles, and is continuously released from the heart in response to both ventricle volume expansion and pressure overload. Other potential causes of elevated BNP levels include diastolic dysfunction, acute coronary syndromes, and hypertension with LVH, valvular heart disease, atrial fibrillation, and pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension, sepsis, COPD, or hyperthyroidism.

If any patient is receiving biotin, the sample should not be taken until at least 8 hours after last biotin administration. Normal range for BNP is 0.5-30 pg/mL 3,4 If any patient has values between 100 pg/mL and 400 pg/mL it is an alarming sign and needs further investigation. Higher BNP levels indicate an alarming condition and chances of any serious disease.

BNP is useful to make a diagnosis of Heart Failure. Patients suffering from Dyspnea, BNP is a useful assay but should not be a used alone to make a diagnosis of HF. randomized, controlled, clinical trials. In patients with worsening HF, BNP or NT-proBNP is recommended in patients with dyspnea who are being evaluated for a diagnosis of acutely decompensated heart failure.

A small amount of blood will be taken from you. Then it’s placed in a machine that reads the level of BNP and NT-pro-BNP. The test takes about 15 minutes. The blood sample may have to be transported to a laboratory in some situations. Sample: Serum or plasma; 2 mL aliquot serum or plasma; minimum 0.5 mL Sample collection container: Stat/Line draws: 3 mL light-green-top (plasma separator) tube Routine requests/off-site specimens: 3.5 mL gold-top (serum separator) tube Sample stability: Room temperature three days; Refrigerated six days; frozen twenty-four months. Room temperature if transported to a laboratory. Specimen processing method: Serum should be allowed to clot. Centrifuge serum or plasma at 1100-2000 x g for 10 minutes at room temperature.