Reference Values

Emergency Department Settings

For patients presenting to ED settings with acute or worsening dyspnea and clinical suspicion of HF, the VITROS NT-proBNP test results should be interpreted as indicated in the table below.

VITROS NT-proBNP

Test Results           Age Group (years)   Interpretation

 <300                          All                          Negative: Heart Failure unlikely

 ≥300 to <450           22- <50                  Gray Zone: Results indeterminate

 ≥300 to <900           50- <75                  consider other causes of

 ≥300 to <1800          ≥75                     NT-proBNP elevation*

≥450                        22- <50                    Positive: Heart Failure likely

 ≥900                        50- <75                   

 ≥1800                      ≥75

Ambulatory/Outpatient Settings

In the outpatient settings, the optimal use of natriuretic peptides is to exclude HF.  Therefore, a lower rule-out cutoff which increases sensitivity and negative predictive value is needed, as patients can present with limited, less acute HF signs and symptoms.

For ambulatory patients presenting to outpatient facilities with clinical Suspicion of HF not previously diagnosed and at least one sign, symptom or risk factor for HF, the VITROS NT-proBNP test results should be interpreted as indicated in the table below.

VITROS NT-proBNP

Test Results           Age Group (years)   Interpretation

 <125                      All                             Negative: Heart Failure unlikely

 ≥125                    All                            Consider Heart Failure as well

                                                                 as other causes of NT-proBNP

                                                                 elevation.*

*Natriuretic peptide value elevations could also be caused by several conditions other than heart failure such as: acute coronary syndrome/acute myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertesion, sepsis, stroke, and renal

dysfunction.