title: Troponin Testing for Clinicians.
abstract: The analytical performance of troponin assays has improved markedly in the last 2 decades. The variety of assays, their evolution over time, and their critical importance in influencing care, mandates the need for skills in their use. There are 3 critical elements necessary for optimal use of troponin testing in clinical care, as follows: 1) the analytical performance of the assay; 2) the clinical sensitivity and specificity of the test result; and 3) the clinical reasoning for ordering and the proper clinical context for interpreting the test result. This paper provides further explanation that will assist clinicians in their clinical decision making and interpretation of troponin test results. Schematic visual explanations are provided to help clinicians develop a more intuitive understanding of troponin testing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School and Sentara Healthcare, Norfolk, Virginia. Electronic address: jebrush@me.com.
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Brush
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, and David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaul
authors.affiliation: Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Yale-New Haven Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Harlan M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Krumholz
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D000066491:Clinical Decision-Making; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014336:Troponin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014336:Troponin
keywords: acute coronary syndrome; acute myocardial infarction; clinical decision making