Conducted by the University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, the German Center for Cardiovascular Research, and Cardio-CARE in Switzerland, the research highlights the effectiveness of this new test in accelerating diagnosis.

Research indicates that this rapid testing method can exclude a heart attack in approximately 35% more patients compared to conventional methods, while maintaining a nearly 100% accuracy rate.

Dr. Kristin Aakre emphasized the need to address obstacles in patient flow to maximize the benefits of point-of-care tests in emergency settings.

A new rapid blood test for heart attacks was recently presented at the ESC Congress 2024, which could significantly improve emergency department treatment for patients experiencing chest pain.

This innovative test, supported by artificial intelligence, aims to quickly detect or rule out heart attacks within minutes, potentially alleviating pressure on emergency departments.

The study, which analyzed data from 2,500 patients in the USA and Australia, suggests that the combination of AI and rapid testing could relieve strain on hospital emergency departments.

Results from the test can be obtained within just eight minutes, significantly faster than traditional laboratory-based troponin tests, which typically take up to 60 minutes.

The test requires only a single drop of blood, making it more efficient for clinical settings.

Patients diagnosed with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) experienced a significant reduction in emergency department stay, with point-of-care testing reducing their stay by 43 minutes compared to standard testing.

While the test shows promise, it has yet to be validated in routine clinical practice, and further randomized controlled trials are needed before it can be widely adopted.

Study leader Stefan Blankenberg noted that the combination of AI and rapid testing could contribute to easing the workload of hospital emergency departments.

Safety outcomes, including rates of deaths and heart attacks within 30 days, were comparable between the point-of-care testing and standard testing groups.