Natriuretic Peptide Tests (BNP, NT-proBNP)
Reviewed
Also called: BNP test, NT-proBNP test, Brain natriuretic peptide test, N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide test, B-type natriuretic peptide test, N terminal proBNP test
Natriuretic peptide tests measure the amount of these proteins in a sample of your blood.
Specimen: blood
Why this test may be ordered
- To help diagnose or rule out heart failure in a person who is having symptoms, especially shortness of breath.
- For people already diagnosed with heart failure, to find out how serious their heart condition is, predict the chances that their condition will get worse, or check if an increase in symptoms means that heart failure has gotten worse.
- In certain cases, to monitor the heart health of people who have had a heart attack or have a heart condition that suddenly reduces blood flow to the heart, such as unstable angina.
Preparation and collection
You don't need any special preparations for a BNP test or an NT-proBNP test.
For a BNP test or an NT-proBNP test, a health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. If you're being tested in a hospital, you may have a fingerstick test.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
Understanding results
The meaning of your test results will depend on your age, sex, medical history, family history, and the results of other tests. A BNP or NT-proBNP test alone can't diagnose the cause of your symptoms.
- Normal: Normal results on a BNP or NT-proBNP usually mean that you're unlikely to have heart failure. Limitation: If you have obesity, your weight may affect the accuracy of your test results, making your levels lower than they really are. Next step: If your provider suspects heart failure, you may have other heart health tests even if your BNP or NT-proBNP levels are normal.
- Higher than normal: Higher than normal levels of BNP or NT-proBNP mean that you could have heart failure. In most cases, the higher the level of your test results, the more serious your heart failure may be. Limitation: But other health conditions can increase BNP and NT-proBNP levels. Next step: Your provider will probably order other heart health tests to help make a final diagnosis.
- A BNP or NT-proBNP test alone cannot diagnose the cause of your symptoms.
- If you have obesity, your weight may affect the accuracy of your test results, making your levels lower than they really are.
- Other health conditions can increase BNP and NT-proBNP levels, including kidney failure, other types of heart disease, and certain lung disorders.
What to do next
Ask your provider to explain what the results of your BNP or NT-proBNP test say about your health and how this information may affect your treatment.
- What do my BNP or NT-proBNP test results say about my health?
- How may this information affect my treatment?
- Do I need any other tests?
Evidence source
Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus). Practices and reference ranges may differ in your country.
U.S. National Library of Medicine: Natriuretic Peptide Tests (BNP, NT-proBNP)