Ajax Harwood Clinic

BNP / NT-proBNP heart test

Full name: BNP / NT-proBNP (natriuretic peptides)

This is a standard, well-established test when it's relevant to you.

What this test is

BNP and NT-proBNP are blood tests. They rise when the heart is under strain, often from heart failure. If you have shortness of breath, leg swelling, or less energy for activity than before, this test is useful. A normal, low result is very good at ruling out heart failure as the cause. It is not meant to be a general screening test in someone without these symptoms. It has not been studied that way, and a result would not have a clear meaning. In Ontario, NT-proBNP is a covered test for suspected heart failure when your doctor orders it.

Want to see the full clinical reasoning? The reference we use for this test is open to anyone — it is detailed and written for clinicians, and you are welcome to read it.

Open the clinician reference →

Looking for other tests, or more on a condition an ND raised? Explore ask.ajaxharwoodclinic.com →

General health information for Ajax Harwood Clinic patients and the public — not medical advice, and not a substitute for seeing your own doctor. Last reviewed 2026-09-23.