A revolutionary new blood test for detecting a heart attack could speed up diagnosis and save the NHS millions of pounds every year, according to new research funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
The blood test, developed by a team from King’s College London and tested across Europe, is quicker than the standard test and can rapidly rule out a heart attack in more people. This could reassure worried patients in Accident & Emergency departments, free up bed space and save hundreds of thousands of pounds per UK hospital every year.
Dr Tom Kaier, one of the lead researchers, funded by the British Heart Foundation at St. Thomas’ Hospital, London said:
“Our research shows that the new test has the potential to reassure many thousands more patients with a single test, improving their experience and freeing up valuable hospital beds in A&E departments and wards across the country.”
Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation said:
“These initial results with the cMyC test look very promising for patients, who could be more quickly diagnosed and treated or reassured and sent home. This test could also allow hospitals to save hundreds of thousands of pounds by freeing up valuable hospital beds. However further research is necessary before it can be recommended as a replacement for the troponin test.”
Professor Mike Marber, funded by the British Heart Foundation and head of the UK side of the research, said:
“This research is the first of its kind for cMyC. We’ve shown that this test is not only just as good as the current test for working out who has had a heart attack, but it’s also much better at working out who hasn’t.”
“We would love to see this new test rolled out in hospitals in the next 5 years.”
The blood test, developed by a team from King’s College London and tested across Europe, is quicker than the standard test and can rapidly rule out a heart attack in more people. This could reassure worried patients in Accident & Emergency departments, free up bed space and save hundreds of thousands of pounds per UK hospital every year.
Dr Tom Kaier, one of the lead researchers, funded by the British Heart Foundation at St. Thomas’ Hospital, London said:
“Our research shows that the new test has the potential to reassure many thousands more patients with a single test, improving their experience and freeing up valuable hospital beds in A&E departments and wards across the country.”
Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation said:
“These initial results with the cMyC test look very promising for patients, who could be more quickly diagnosed and treated or reassured and sent home. This test could also allow hospitals to save hundreds of thousands of pounds by freeing up valuable hospital beds. However further research is necessary before it can be recommended as a replacement for the troponin test.”
Professor Mike Marber, funded by the British Heart Foundation and head of the UK side of the research, said:
“This research is the first of its kind for cMyC. We’ve shown that this test is not only just as good as the current test for working out who has had a heart attack, but it’s also much better at working out who hasn’t.”
“We would love to see this new test rolled out in hospitals in the next 5 years.”
