title: Clinical performance of a new point-of-care cardiac troponin I assay compared to three laboratory troponin assays.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies of cardiac markers in diagnosing acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have mostly been performed using central laboratory platforms. The AQT90 FLEX TnI (troponin I) assay is designed for quantitative point of care testing (POCT). This study evaluated clinical performance in diagnosing AMI of the AQT90 FLEX TnI POCT assay compared with central laboratory troponin assays.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 458 chest pain patients. Blood samples were obtained on admission and after 6-9h. Blood was analyzed using the following assays: AQT90 FLEX TnI, Access AccuTnI, Abbott AxSYM ADV, Roche cTnT, Roche CKMBmass. Patients were diagnosed with AMI according to the new universal definition of AMI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The performance of the AQT90 FLEX TnI assay on admission was equivalent to the Abbott AxSYM ADV cTnI but inferior to the AccuTnI. After 6-9 h both laboratory based assays were superior. The AQT90 FLEX TnI had a negative predictive value (NPV) of 90 and 96% (admission; 6-9 h). No statistical differences were seen in receiver operating characteristics analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The AQT90 FLEX TnI POCT assay was marginally inferior to the two laboratory based assays of cTnI in diagnosing AMI. A high (NPV) may make this assay suitable as a rule out marker.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Research Centre, Heart Centre Aalborg, Aarhus University Hospital (Aalborg), Denmark. sph@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hjortshøj
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Venge
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ravkilde
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009928:Organ Specificity; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D019210:Troponin I / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D019210:Troponin I