CAPT-CAT
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigation of the Clinical and Analytical Performance of two Point of Care Testing devices for the measurement of CardiAc Troponin I (high sensitivity).
IRAS ID
353931
Contact name
Geoff Armstrong
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Betsi Cadwaldr University Health Board
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Many people go to the emergency department because of chest pain. One of the key tests used to check if the heart is damaged is called a high-sensitivity troponin test. Troponins are proteins that are released into the blood when heart muscle is damaged. Currently, this test is usually done in a hospital laboratory, which means the blood sample has to be sent to the laboratory, and results can take some time to come back.
In this study, we want to test small, portable machines that can measure troponin levels right away, without needing to send the sample to the lab. These machines could help doctors make quicker decisions about patient care, especially in emergency settings or even in ambulances.
But before these devices can be used in real-life settings, we need to make sure they are accurate, reliable, and practical to use.
We will be testing two of these device, the Quidel TriageTrue® and the Abbott i-STAT, and comparing their results with standard laboratory machines (like the Roche, Siemens, and Abbott analysers). We’ll also check how precise they are and how well they work in different situations, like in ambulances or other community settings.
This part of the study will use 50-100 patient samples.
By the end of the project, we hope to be able to recommend which of the two portable devices is accurate enough to be used for fast and reliable troponin testing outside of the hospital lab.
REC name
Wales REC 1
REC reference
26/WA/0064
Date of REC Opinion
21 Apr 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion