Clinical Information

The use of a single sample type is recommended for troponin analysis when collecting serial samples from the same patient. Specimens from some individuals with pathologically high gamma globulin levels may demonstrate depressed troponin values. A troponin value above the upper reference limit (99th percentile) value is not always indicative of myocardial infarction. Other conditions resulting in myocardial cell damage can contribute to elevated cardiac troponin I levels. These conditions include, but are not limited to, myocarditis, cardiac surgery, angina, unstable angina, congestive heart failure, and noncardiac-related causes, such as, kidney failure and pulmonary embolism. For assays employing antibodies, the possibility exists for interference by human anti-animal antibodies (i.e., heterophile antibodies) in the patient sample. Patients who have been regularly exposed to animals or have received immunotherapy or diagnostic procedures utilizing immunoglobulins or immunoglobulin fragments may produce antibodies, (eg, HAMA), that interfere with immunoassays. This may falsely elevate or falsely decrease the results.