(Specimen Container)
SST (Tiger Top)
(Transport Temperature)
| Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
| Room temperature | 72 hours |
| Refrigerated | 6 days |
| Frozen | 30 days |
Citrate plasma specimen; grossly hemolyzed samples
Separate serum from cells within 45 minutes of venipuncture.
B-type natriuretic peptide (brain natriuretic peptide: BNP) is a small, ringed peptide secreted by the heart to regulate blood pressure and fluid balance.(1) This peptide is stored in and secreted predominantly from membrane granules in the heart ventricles in a pro form (proBNP). Once released from the heart in response to ventricle volume expansion or pressure overload, the N-terminal (NT) piece of 76 amino acids (NT-proBNP) is rapidly cleaved by the enzymes corin and furin to release the active 32-amino acid peptide (BNP). Both BNP and NT-proBNP are markers of atrial and ventricular distension due to increased intracardiac pressure. The New York Heart Association (NYHA) developed a 4-stage functional classification system for congestive heart failure (CHF) based on the severity of the symptoms. Studies have demonstrated that the measured concentrations of circulating BNP and NT-proBNP increase with the severity of CHF based on the NYHA classification.
See Laboratory Report
