BNP (B-Type Natriuretic Peptide) Test
A BNP test measures B-type natriuretic peptide, a substance the heart releases in certain circumstances. Clinicians review it in the context of heart function, alongside a person's symptoms, history, and other findings — never as a stand-alone answer.
About this test
B-type natriuretic peptide, or BNP, is produced mainly by the heart. It is one of several markers clinicians associate with how the heart is working, and it is measured from the blood.
The BNP test is done with a simple blood draw at a patient service center. A phlebotomist collects a sample from a vein, usually in the arm, and the sample goes to the laboratory.
Who might consider this test?
- People who order a BNP test are often doing so under the guidance of a clinician who is exploring questions about heart function.
- Because it relates to cardiac context, it is generally used within a broader clinical evaluation rather than as a casual first look.
Test details
| Quest code | 37386 |
|---|---|
| Methodology | Immunoassay |
| Sample type | 1 mL frozen plasma |
| Collection | Quest patient service center |
Reference range
<100 pg/mL
Reference ranges are general guidance. The range printed on your own laboratory report is the one that applies to your result.
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Quest resources
Additional details
What this test looks at
BNP reflects a substance the heart can release under certain conditions. Because it relates specifically to cardiac context, clinicians consider it when heart function is part of the conversation. As a marker, it describes one narrow aspect of how the heart is working rather than the whole picture.
It also helps to remember what BNP is not: it is not a general wellness score, and it is not something a person interprets alone. It is a specialized marker that belongs within a clinician-guided evaluation, which is why a single result is treated as one piece of a larger assessment.
How it's often used alongside other tests
BNP is typically ordered as part of a broader cardiac evaluation rather than in isolation. A clinician reads it alongside an examination, a person's symptoms and history, and often other tests, since heart function is understood through many inputs at once. Read together, these findings offer far more context than any single marker can on its own, and a clinician decides how each piece fits.
Order online and a physician order is included — no doctor's visit and no insurance needed. Your sample is collected at a Quest Diagnostics patient service center.
Laboratory results should always be interpreted by a licensed clinician who knows your health history. This page is information about a test, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
What does a BNP test measure?
It measures B-type natriuretic peptide, a substance the heart releases in certain circumstances. Clinicians review it in the context of heart function, alongside symptoms, history, and an examination.
How is the sample collected?
Through a routine blood draw at a patient service center. A phlebotomist takes a small sample from a vein in the arm and sends it to the laboratory.
Is BNP something I should interpret on my own?
No. BNP is a specialized cardiac marker that belongs within a clinician-guided evaluation. A clinician interprets it alongside an examination, symptoms, history, and other tests rather than as a stand-alone result.
Do I need to fast before a BNP test?
No preparation instructions are listed for this test, though people follow any instructions their ordering clinician provides.
Can a BNP test alone assess my heart?
No single marker assesses heart function on its own. Clinicians read BNP together with an examination, symptoms, history, and other tests to understand the fuller picture.
How much does the B-Type Natriuretic Peptide test cost?
The cash price at Celio Health is $445. That covers the physician's order and sample collection at a Quest patient service center — no insurance is needed and there's no separate doctor's visit to pay for.