The benefits of a rapid, point-of-care "TnI-Only" zero and 2-hour protocol for the evaluation of chest pain patients in the Emergency Department.

Delays in diagnosis and treatment of cardiac patients presenting in the Emergency Department with symptoms of acute coronary syndromes are associated with poorer patient outcomes; hence, the timely and accurate diagnosis in the Emergency Department now requires the 24/7 availability of real-time, rapid testing for cardiac markers. Cardiac troponin (cTnI) has emerged as the biomarker of choice to aid physicians in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction and moreover current guidelines call for cTnI results to be available to clinicians within 60 minutes of blood draw each and every time a cTnI is ordered.