Cardiac Enzyme Studies
Cardiac Enzyme Studies
Guide
The blood sample is taken from a vein in your arm. An elastic band is wrapped around your upper arm. It may feel tight. You may feel nothing at all from the needle, or you may feel a quick sting or pinch.
There is very little chance of a problem from having a blood sample taken from a vein.
Cardiac enzyme studies measure the levels of the enzyme creatine kinase (CK), and the proteins troponin I (TnI) and troponin T (TnT) in the blood.
Values and units for reporting the results of cardiac enzyme tests vary considerably. The normal values listed here-called a reference range-are just a guide. These ranges vary from lab to lab, and your lab may have a different range for what's normal. Your lab report should contain the range your lab uses. Also, your doctor will evaluate your results based on your health and other factors. This means that a value that falls outside the normal values listed here may still be normal for you or your lab.
Troponin normal values:1
CK-MB (creatine kinase-myocardial band) normal values:1
Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:
Cardiac Enzyme Studies
Guide
How It Feels
The blood sample is taken from a vein in your arm. An elastic band is wrapped around your upper arm. It may feel tight. You may feel nothing at all from the needle, or you may feel a quick sting or pinch.
Risks
There is very little chance of a problem from having a blood sample taken from a vein.
- You may get a small bruise at the site. You can lower the chance of bruising by keeping pressure on the site for several minutes.
- In rare cases, the vein may become swollen after the blood sample is taken. This problem is called phlebitis. A warm compress can be used several times a day to treat this.
- Ongoing bleeding can be a problem for people with bleeding disorders. Aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin) and other blood-thinning medicines can make bleeding more likely. If you have bleeding or clotting problems, or if you take blood-thinning medicine, tell your doctor before your blood sample is taken.
Results
Cardiac enzyme studies measure the levels of the enzyme creatine kinase (CK), and the proteins troponin I (TnI) and troponin T (TnT) in the blood.
Values and units for reporting the results of cardiac enzyme tests vary considerably. The normal values listed here-called a reference range-are just a guide. These ranges vary from lab to lab, and your lab may have a different range for what's normal. Your lab report should contain the range your lab uses. Also, your doctor will evaluate your results based on your health and other factors. This means that a value that falls outside the normal values listed here may still be normal for you or your lab.
Troponin normal values:1
- TnI: Less than 0.35 micrograms per liter (mcg/L)
- TnT: Less than 0.2 mcg/L
CK-MB (creatine kinase-myocardial band) normal values:1
- 0-3 micrograms per liter (mcg/L)
What Affects the Test
Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:
- Other diseases, such as hypothyroidism, muscular dystrophy, certain autoimmune diseases, and Reye syndrome.
- Other heart conditions, such as myocarditis and some forms of cardiomyopathy.
- Emergency measures to treat heart problems, such as CPR, cardioversion, or defibrillation.
- Medicines, especially injections into muscles (IM injections).
- Cholesterol-lowering medicines (statins).
- Heavy alcohol use.
- Recent strenuous exercise.
- Kidney injury.
- Recent surgery or serious injury.