title: Measurement Nt-proBNP circulating concentrations in heart failure patients with a new point-of-care assay.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  BNP (Brain Natriuretic Peptide) and Nt-proBNP (N-terminal-pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide) are valuable markers for the diagnosis and prognosis of heart failure (HF). The AQT90 FLEX is a newly released random access analyzer for point-of-care (POCT) measurement. The aim of our study was to determine Nt-pro-BNP concentrations in HF patients with the POCT assay.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nt-proBNP levels were measured in seventy seven HF patients and in thirty seven healthy volunteers. The results were compared with a central laboratory assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nt-proBNP levels measured with the AQT90 FLEX were significantly correlated with the comparison Nt-proBNP assay and were related to HF severity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nt-proBNP testing with the AQT 90 FLEX analyzer is comparable to the central lab assay and may offer the advantages of POCT testing for the diagnosis and prognosis of heart failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Thibault
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lepoutre
authors.forename: Michel F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Rousseau
authors.forename: Sylvie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gruson
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain