Quality specifications for B-type natriuretic peptide assays

BACKGROUND: The objective of this report is to improve the quality of immunochemical measurements of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and its N-terminal propeptide (NT-proBNP). The recommendations proposed are intended for use by manufacturers of commercial assays, by clinical laboratories using those assays, by clinical trial groups and research investigators, and by regulatory agencies, such as the United States Food and Drug Administration. METHODS: A group of cardiac biomarker experts reviewed and abstracted the scientific literature to provide recommendations pertaining to the quality specifications for BNP/NT-proBNP assays. RESULTS: The evidence-based recommendations encourage manufacturers to endorse and consistently follow the proposed recommendations; encourage that all package inserts for BNP/NT-proBNP immunoassays include uniform information on assay design, preanalytical performance characteristics, analytical performance characteristics, and clinical performance; and encourage regulatory agencies to adopt a minimal and uniform set of criteria for manufacturers to provide when seeking clearance for new and/or improved assays. CONCLUSIONS: These recommendations address the use of BNP and NT-proBNP as cardiac biomarkers and not their physiologic and/or pathophysiologic relevance.