New ED Diagnostic for Heart Patients

A rapid medical diagnostic is designed to accelerate and improve emergency department (ED) evaluation of shortness of breath, one of the main reasons for ED visits.

The Triage Profiler Shortness of Breath Panel is a symptom panel that can help doctors distinguish among the three most common causes of shortness of breath: congestive heart failure (CHF), pulmonary embolism, and heart attack. The 15-minute test measures the levels of five biomarkers: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), D-dimer, creatine kinase-myoglobin (CK-MB, which counts as two biomarkers), and cardiac troponin I. These aid in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction, the severity of congestive heart failure, the assessment and evaluation of suspected disseminated intravascular coagulation (including pulmonary embolism), and the risk stratification of patients with acute coronary syndromes.

"When patients wait before seeking medical attention after experiencing shortness of breath, it often becomes a major emergency,” explained Dr. Philip B. Adamson, M.D., associate professor of medicine and cardiology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (Oklahoma City, USA). "Faster diagnosis means less time before life-saving therapy can be delivered.”

The new panel is the product of Biosite Inc. (San Diego, CA, USA). Testing with the panel is performed in a one-step operation from a whole-blood sample using a small, disposable diagnostic device and the Triage MeterPlus portable meter. Quality control checks are performed each time the test is run, significantly reducing the need for separate quality control testing.

According to the U.S. National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, more than 2.5 million patients present to EDs each year, citing shortness of breath as the principal reason for their visit. The symptom ranks among the top 10 reasons for emergency room visits.




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