Natriuretic Peptide Tests (BNP, NT-proBNP)
Reviewed
Natriuretic peptide tests measure the amount of BNP or NT-proBNP proteins in a sample of your blood. They are mainly used to help confirm or rule out heart failure in people who have symptoms.
Preparation and collection
You don't need any special preparations for this test.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- 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
Your provider will explain what your results mean and may order other heart health tests to help make a final diagnosis.
Evidence source
U.S. National Library of Medicine: Natriuretic Peptide Tests (BNP, NT-proBNP)