Troponin Levels in Children

Assay-Specific Variations

• The European Society of Cardiology recommends that the specific reference range for troponin levels depends on the assay used, with high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) assays having limits of detection between 1-5 ng/L and the 99th percentile varying among different hs-cTn assays, mainly between 10-20 ng/L for adults 1, 2
• The American Heart Association suggests that pediatric reference ranges are generally lower than adult values for children beyond infancy, with values below the 99th percentile for age considered normal 1, 2

Interpreting Troponin in Children

• The European Society of Cardiology states that any elevation above the age-appropriate 99th percentile requires clinical context for interpretation, with point-of-care troponin tests having lower sensitivity than central laboratory assays and may miss mild elevations 1, 2