Knowing if you're about to have a heart failure is now possible. With an endeavour to provide accurate solutions with ethical standards and care, SRL Diagnostics Limited (SRL), the largest diagnostics network in India, announced the launch of new lab test- ST2, to help predict risks of coronary heart disease by finding a specific biomarker in the bloodstream. SRL Diagnostics is the first ever diagnostic lab in India to have launched this key medical test, available across India at all Fortis Labs/ SRL Diagnostics Labs and its collection centres for just Rs 1600.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr B R Das, president-research and innovation, mentor-molecular pathology and clinical research services, SRL Diagnostics Ltd said, "ST2 is the only marker available in India for predicting prognosis in heart failure cases and SRL Diagnostics is the only service provider of this medical test in the country. Unlike many other cardiac biomarkers, ST2 is faster thus helping physicians make informed decisions on an appropriate course of action to take and, if needed, to quickly adjust treatment. It can reduce 30 day rehospitalisation rates by 17.3 percent and also reduce 30-day mortality rates by 17.6 percent."

Recent evidence has reported the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) to be 50 percent to 40 percent higher in Asian Indians than individuals of other ethnic origins. In addition, some 30 percent to 40 percent of cardiovascular deaths occur between 35 and 64 years of age. The prevalence of heart failure in India due to coronary heart disease, hypertension, obesity, diabetes and rheumatic heart disease to range from 1.3 to 4.6 million, with an annual incidence of 4,91,600-1.8 million.

"ST2 is ELISA based test which is a US FDA approved technology and was included in 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines for the management of heart failure. It has been extensively evaluated with more than 100 peer reviewed articles and scientific posters studying more than 35,000 patients. So far, SRL Diagnostics has collected 100 samples for the predicting the heart failure" Dr Das further added.

The American College of Cardiology Foundation and the American Heart Association Task Force jointly released their expanded clinical practice guideline for the management of patients with heart failure and has identified ST2 'not only predictive of hospitalization and death in patients with heart failure but also additive to natriuretic peptide levels in its prognostic value.'

SRL consistently follows the best of National and International Quality protocols, thereby ensuring accuracy of every test report.