CAP Pro Course - Point-of-Care Testing - Cardiac Biomarkers (2025 & 2026)

Author: Alice Travanty, BS, MLS(ASCP)
Reviewer: Joshua J. Cannon, MS, MLS(ASCP)CMSHCM

Continuing Education Credits

Objectives

  • Correlate results of cardiac biomarkers with clinical findings.
  • Identify venipuncture procedures and specimen requirements that will produce a quality specimen for point-of-care (POC) cardiac biomarker testing.
  • Apply procedural methods for POC cardiac biomarkers that will ensure quality results and patient safety.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of procedures to be performed to ensure a new analyzer functions properly.

Course Outline

  • Correlate results of cardiac biomarkers with clinical findings.
      • Cardiac Biomarkers
      • Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI)
      • Cardiac Troponin
      • Heart Failure (HF)
      • Detecting Heart Failure (HF)
      • Which of the following characteristics for a cardiac biomarker would be useful in detecting acute myocardial infarction (AMI)?
      • Which one of these materials is produced by the heart in response to the stretch of the heart wall and is useful as a biomarker for the detection of h...
      • A 67-year-old man is brought by ambulance to the emergency department with suspected acute myocardial infarction (AMI). What is the preferred biomarke...
      • What is a primary reason that cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and T (cTnT) are considered superior cardiac biomarkers for the detection of acute myocardial ...
      • A 50-year-old female patient presents to the emergency department (ED). She has been experiencing strong pressure in her abdomen for the past eight ho...
      • Which of the following can be defined as "A sudden loss of circulating blood and oxygen that causes necrosis of myocardial tissue"?
      • How many hours after a cardiac event has occurred will cardiac troponins (cTnI and cTnT) start to rise?
  • Identify venipuncture procedures and specimen requirements that will produce a quality specimen for point-of-care (POC) cardiac biomarker testing.
      • Procedure for Performing Venipuncture for POC Cardiac Biomarkers
      • Collecting a Blood Specimen From an Arm With an IV
      • Specimen Guidelines for POC Cardiac Biomarker Testing
      • You receive an order to collect a troponin test, which requires a venous whole blood sample. You are having a difficult time finding an acceptable vei...
      • The sample that is required for the point-of-care BNP method at ABC hospital is an EDTA-anticoagulated venous sample. The health care professional who...
      • The sample that is required for the point-of-care BNP method at ABC hospital is an EDTA-anticoagulated venous sample. The health care professional who...
      • A venous sample is collected for troponin testing by the POC instrument operator. The test is being performed in the vicinity of the patient. The samp...
      • An unconscious patient who most likely experienced a heart attack is transported by emergency medical service personnel to the emergency department (E...
      • You receive an order for a BNP test. When you approach the patient, you observe intravenous (IV) infusions in both arms; therefore, you have to collec...
  • Apply procedural methods for POC cardiac biomarkers that will ensure quality results and patient safety.
      • Ensuring Quality Results
      • Test Method Correlation
      • Why is it important to periodically compare patient test results between different instruments that are used to perform the same tests within a facili...
      • The ED is extremely busy when a patient is brought in who may have experienced a heart attack. A POC troponin is ordered stat. Who is qualified to per...
      • Troponin reagent cartridges at ABC Hospital are stored in the refrigerator as per the manufacturer's storage requirements; however, the manufacturer a...
      • The instrument operator has picked up a cartridge packet to begin troponin testing and has verified that the cartridge has not reached the room-temper...
      • The central laboratory and the ED both perform cardiac biomarker testing. In which of these cases should the laboratory's instrument be periodically c...
      • ABC Hospital verifies daily performance of the POC instrument that is used for BNP testing using an electronic simulator. The instrument operator perf...
      • The POC cardiac troponin test system that is used in the ED at Hometown Hospital uses reagent cartridges. The storage requirement is refrigeration, al...
  • Demonstrate knowledge of procedures to be performed to ensure a new analyzer functions properly.
      • Verification of Test Performance Specifications
      • Individualized Quality Control Plan (IQCP)
      • The ED is currently running daily external controls on their troponin analyzers. They find that this is time consuming and would like to run electroni...
      • The ED has just received a loaner instrument to be used while one of their nonwaived troponin analyzers that was dropped is being repaired. What needs...
  • References
      • References

Additional Information

Level of Instruction: Intermediate
Intended Audience: This program is designed as an educational and training tool for MLS, MT, and MLT personnel, phlebotomists, medical laboratory science students and interns, pathology residents, and practicing pathologists.
Author Information: Alice Travanty, BS, MLS(ASCP), was the Point-of-Care Coordinator for St. Joseph Hospital, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, until her recent retirement from that position. She serves as a technical consultant for Tosa Pediatrics. Alice is the author of the article "Connectivity Aids Compliance" in Advance for Administrators of Laboratory Vol 20, Issue 11, page 18. She graduated from Marquette University with a degree in Medical Technology and holds a Point-of-Care Specialist certificate from AACC.
Reviewer Information: Joshua J. Cannon, MS, MLS(ASCP)CMSHCM received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Science from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. He holds Medical Laboratory Scientist and Specialist in Hematology certifications through the ASCP Board of Certification. He was a professor at Thomas Jefferson University for seven years before transitioning into his current role as an Education Developer. His areas of expertise and professional passions include clinical hematology and interprofessional education.

This course is part of the CAP Competency Assessment Hub.

See other included Pro courses

See other included instrument checklists