Comparing two troponin testing pathways for chest pain assessment

Safety and Feasibility of Triage and Rapid Discharge of Patients With Chest Pain From Accident and Emergency: a Pragmatic, Randomised, Multicentre, Non-inferiority Control Trial of the Accelerated European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 0-1 Hour Pathway vs. Conventional 0-3 Hour Accelerated Diagnostic Protocol.

NA · Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · NCT05322395

This study is testing if a quicker troponin testing method for chest pain can safely help patients leave the hospital sooner compared to the traditional method.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment3536 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorLiverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (other gov)
Locations1 site (Liverpool, GB)
Trial IDNCT05322395 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and safety of implementing the ESC 0-1 hour high sensitivity troponin pathway compared to the conventional 0-3 hour pathway in patients presenting with chest pain. It will involve a randomized multicenter controlled design, assessing the percentage of safe discharges within 4 hours of presentation. The study will utilize high sensitivity troponin assays and will also explore point-of-care testing for additional insights into patient management. The primary focus is on ensuring patient safety while optimizing discharge protocols.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults over 18 years presenting with chest pain and moderate to high suspicion of myocardial ischemia within 12 hours of symptom onset.

Not a fit: Patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction, non-cardiac symptoms, or those requiring hospital admission due to comorbid conditions may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to faster and safer discharge protocols for patients with chest pain, potentially improving outcomes in acute coronary syndrome management.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise in using accelerated troponin pathways, but this specific comparison of the 0-1 hour versus 0-3 hour protocols is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Chest pain with moderate or high suspicion chest pain (see chest pain evaluation chart at end) or any patient the clinician deems suspicious for myocardial ischaemia thus requesting a troponin sample (between daytime hours 0800hrs to 1800hrs)
* Presentation \<12 hours since onset of chest pain (or unknown duration)
* Age \>18 years of age

Exclusion Criteria:

* ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) infarct on the presenting electrocardiogram (ECG)
* Symptoms considered definitely non-cardiac
* Trauma
* Pregnancy
* Comorbid conditions requiring hospital admission
* Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) \<1 month
* coexistent clinical conditions likely to preclude follow-up.

Where this trial is running

Liverpool, GB

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Acute Coronary Syndrome, Troponin, Chest Pain, Point-of-care Systems, acs, POC troponin, high sensitivity troponin

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.