Myoglobin, Serum Test

Myoglobin is a protein that is present in your heart and skeletal muscles. It captures the oxygen required for your muscles to function. Occurrence of a heart attack or severe muscle damages leads to the release of myoglobin into the blood stream. The levels of myoglobin increase after 2 to 3 hours after muscle and it peaks about 8 to 12 hours later. This test is administered in the case of a severe muscle injury or cases in which a heart attack is suspected. Symptoms which warrant a myoglobin test include muscle pain, dark coloured urine (too much of myoglobin might lead to a kidney failure), unexplained fever and fatigue, nausea and vomiting, and abdominal pain.

All prior information regarding medication and allergies must be informed. Consumption of any form of drug must be conveyed to the doctor. There is no special preparation required. Wear short sleeved or sleeveless clothes, or you can roll up your sleeves too.

Results are usually less than 90 mcg/ml (micrograms/ milliliter). Higher values often indicate:

• Exercises which has caused excessive stress
• Heart Attack
• Extreme muscle damage like muscular dystrophy (group of diseases that cause the weakening and breakdown of skeletal muscles)
• Shock
• Kidney Failure
• Malignant Hyperthermia (severe reaction to a general anesthetic)
• Poison and other such foreign substances

Lower values may be due to:

• Rheumatoid Arthritis ( disorder that affects joints- causing the swelling of joints)
• Myasthenia gravis (long term neuro- muscular that leads to the weakening of skeletal muscles .

The myoglobin test requires just a blood sample, which is obtained using normal norms. The area, usually accommodating the visible vein on the inside of your hand (near your elbow) is cleaned using an alcohol pad. A thin needle is inserted and the brood is drawn out. The area is then bandaged. The sample is sent for testing the amount of myoglobin present. Since, blood is drawn, there might be a little bleeding or a mild spell of dizziness.