Queen's University experts at heart of saving lives with new test

Ulster scientists have developed a new test for heart attacks which could save thousands of lives.

The rapid blood test detects heart failure at an early stage and has been developed by specialists at QUB .

The diagnostic, which is being earmarked for future use on the NHS, is far more accurate than current checks.

At the moment, doctors measure levels of a protein called B-type natriuretic peptide in the blood through a standard test. Increased levels of this protein indicate a risk of heart failure but obesity, advancing age and some medications also push up levels of BNP, meaning the check is not totally reliable.

Now experts at Queen’s University Belfast have resolved this problem by measuring BNP together with other key proteins in the blood.

The test also picks up signs of heart failure before patients present with serious clinical symptoms, thereby preventing long-term damage.

Dr Claire Tonry said: “There’s an urgent need to develop tests that can diagnose heart failure at an earlier stage and with greater accuracy in order to improve outcomes for patients with the disease.

“It’s difficult to measure multiple biomarkers in blood in a single test but, through our method, we were able to quickly measure multiple proteins from a small amount of blood that’s routinely collected by clinicians for measurement of BNP.

“The results from the test are promising and we’re now carrying out further research to see if this will be a clinically useful tool for diagnosis of heart failure.”

The findings were published at the British Cardiovascular Society Conference in Manchester.

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