10-Minute Finger-Prick test could speed up heart attack diagnosis

This study tests a new finger-prick device that measures troponin, a heart damage protein, in about 10 minutes—much faster than the usual 2-hour lab test. Researchers will enroll 1000 adults with chest pain in the emergency department to see if this quick test helps diagnose heart attacks earlier and reduce hospital stays. The goal is to find the best way to use this device to speed up care and reassure patients who are not having a heart attack.