Cardiac troponin (cTn), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), cardiac troponin T (cTnT)

This test measures the amount of the protein troponin in your blood.

Troponin is found in cells in your heart muscle. When these cells are injured—most often because the heart isn't getting enough oxygen and nutrients—they can release troponin and other substances into the blood.

Measuring your levels of troponin often can quickly tell your healthcare provider whether you are having a heart attack. During a heart attack, an artery that feeds your heart muscle with blood becomes blocked.

You may need this test if your healthcare provider suspects that you are having a heart attack. Symptoms of a heart attack often include:

• Pain or discomfort in the chest that may feel like a squeezing sensation or a sense of fullness

• Pain in other areas, such as the neck, back, arm, or jaw

• Shortness of breath

• Lightheadedness or dizziness

• Nausea or vomiting

• Sudden sweating

• Extreme tiredness

Your healthcare provider may also order other tests to diagnose a heart attack and learn more about how it's affecting the heart. These tests often include:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heart's electrical activity

• Blood tests to measure creatine kinase MB, a substance found in heart muscle and other tissues

Test results may vary depending on your age, gender, health history, the method used for the test, and other things. Your test results may not mean you have a problem. Ask your healthcare provider what your test results mean for you. 

Results are given in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). The normal range for troponin is between 0 and 0.4 ng/mL.

Other types of heart injury may cause a rise in troponin levels. These include:

• Atrial fibrillation

• Heart failure

• Myocarditis

• Damage to the heart from anthracycline medicines. These are used for cancer treatment.

Conditions in other parts of your body may cause troponin levels to rise. These include:

• Blood clot in your lungs (pulmonary embolism)

• Chronic kidney disease

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

The test is done with a blood sample. A needle is used to draw blood from a vein in your arm or hand. 

Having a blood test with a needle carries some risks. These include bleeding, infection, bruising, and feeling lightheaded. When the needle pricks your arm or hand, you may feel a slight sting or pain. Afterward, the site may be sore. 

Having this test too soon after a heart attack may give a false-negative. Cardiac troponin takes a few hours to rise after heart-cell death begins. Your healthcare provider may need to measure it several times over a few hours after the symptoms start.

You don't need to prepare for this test. Be sure your healthcare provider knows about all medicines, herbs, vitamins, and supplements you are taking. This includes medicines that don't need a prescription and any illicit drugs you may use.