High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) Test
A blood test that measures cardiac troponin T levels using high-sensitivity methods to detect heart muscle damage.
{"Measures troponin T, a protein released when heart muscle is damaged","High-sensitivity method can detect very low levels of cardiac injury","Two tests (2 hours and 6 hours apart) help track changes over time","Primary use is to diagnose or rule out heart attack","Results help doctors assess heart-related chest pain"}
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 101865-4
- Short code
- cTnT-HS, hs-TnT, Troponin T 5th Gen
- Synonyms
- Troponin T 2H 6H 5th gen SerPl HS
- Category
- cardiac
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Serum separator tube (SST, gold top) or plain red top tube
- Units
- N/A
- Ref low
- 0
- Ref high
- 14
- Critical range
- — – 14 N/A
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- ≥ 18 years
- Method
- high-sensitivity
- CPT
- 84484
- SNOMED
- 36908009
- Specimen volume
- 1.0-2.0 mL of serum minimum
- Stability
- Room temperature (20-25°C): 8 hours; Refrigerated (2-8°C): 24 hours; Frozen (-20°C or below): 30 days. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
- Hemolysis max
- 50
- Lipemia max
- 900
- Icterus max
- 60
- TAT
- 1–4 hours
- Order
- routine
The high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) test is a blood test that measures very small amounts of C-reactive protein, a substance your liver produces when there is inflammation somewhere in your body. Because it can detect low-grade inflammation that a standard CRP test may miss, doctors often use it to help estimate your risk of future heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular problems.
The high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) test measures the amount of troponin T in your blood. Troponin T is a protein found specifically in heart muscle cells. When the heart is damaged, even slightly, troponin T is released into the bloodstream.
A healthcare professional will draw a small sample of blood from a vein in your arm, usually on the inside of your elbow, using a thin needle. The procedure takes only a few minutes and may cause brief discomfort or slight bruising at the site. Fasting is generally not required, but recent illness, infection, or intense exercise can temporarily raise CRP levels, so follow any specific instructions your doctor gives you.
A healthcare professional will take a blood sample from your arm. For this test, two samples are typically collected: one at presentation (0 hours) and another 2 hours and/or 6 hours later. This sequential testing helps doctors see how troponin levels change over time, which provides important diagnostic information.
Standard CRP tests are designed to detect the high levels of inflammation seen with infections or inflammatory diseases, so they cannot reliably measure the very low amounts linked to cardiovascular risk. The high-sensitivity method can measure these tiny concentrations accurately, which helps your doctor better assess your risk of heart attack or stroke and choose prevention strategies such as lifestyle changes, closer monitoring, or other treatments.
The 5th generation high-sensitivity assay can detect much lower levels of troponin T than older tests. This means it can identify smaller amounts of heart damage much earlier, helping doctors diagnose heart problems faster and more accurately.
Reference range
99th percentile upper reference limit (URL): <14 ng/L for both males and females. Values below the limit of detection (<5 ng/L) are considered optimal. Risk stratification cutoff: <14 ng/L low risk, 14-53 ng/L intermediate risk, >53 ng/L high risk for acute coronary syndrome.N/A
No fasting required. Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours prior to collection as it may cause transient troponin elevation. Inform laboratory of recent cardiac events, chest pain episodes, cardiac procedures (catheterization, pacemaker, surgery), or thrombolytic therapy. Report current medications including beta-blockers and nitrates.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
The primary clinical purpose is to diagnose acute myocardial infarction (heart attack). When heart muscle cells are damaged due to reduced blood flow, troponin T is released into the blood. Elevated levels, especially with a rising pattern over time, strongly suggest a heart attack. This test is crucial for patients presenting with chest pain or symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome.
The test also helps risk stratification—determining how likely it is that your symptoms are due to a serious heart condition. Even small elevations can be clinically significant in certain contexts, such as identifying patients at higher risk for future cardiovascular events.
Additionally, troponin testing may be used to detect heart injury from other conditions such as myocarditis, heart failure, severe infection, or certain medications that may affect the heart.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to fast before this test?
How long does it take to get results?
What do elevated troponin levels mean?
What does it mean if my troponin levels are normal?
Why are two or three blood draws needed?
Sources
- 1
- 2
- 3
Click any link to access the full source. PubMed Central (PMC) links provide free full-text access.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 10, 2026. · Read our editorial policy