title: Multicenter evaluation of the Roche NT-proBNP assay and comparison to the Biosite Triage BNP assay.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Brain natriuretic peptides (BNPs) are useful in the assessment of heart failure, left ventricular dysfunction, and acute coronary syndromes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a multicenter evaluation of the automated Roche NT-proBNP assay and compared its performance to the Biosite Triage BNP assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The N-terminal (1-76) pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) method is precise (CV<or=6.1%), has a wide dynamic measuring range (30-35000 ng/l), is free from common interferences, and does not cross-react with BNP. EDTA or heparinized plasma samples collected in glass or plastic tubes can be used, and samples are stable at room temperature or 4 degrees C for up to 3 days. In contrast, the Biosite BNP assay has >2-fold higher CV, and plasma samples are more labile when stored at room temperature and 4 degrees C. Comparison studies showed a reasonable correlation between NT-proBNP and BNP assays, with a substantially higher slope bias of 6-20 for the NT-proBNP assay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The automated Roche NT-proBNP assay has good analytical performance and better precision than the Biosite BNP assay. Unlike BNP, NT-proBNP is stable in EDTA plasma for 3 days at room temperature or longer at 4 degrees C. The Roche NT-proBNP is fully automated and will accommodate the testing of large numbers of clinical samples for assessing cardiac dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Dartmouth Medical School and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, 1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA. jyeo@dartmouth.edu
authors.forename: Kiang-Teck J
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.forename: Alan H B
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Fred S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Apple
authors.forename: Martin H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kroll
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Christenson
authors.forename: Kent B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Lewandrowski
authors.forename: Frank A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Sedor
authors.forename: Anthony W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Butch
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants; D004492:Edetic Acid; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D004492:Edetic Acid