BNP blood test
B-type natriuretic peptide
In short
A typical adult BNP result is under 100 pg/mL (limit rises with age). A raised BNP can be a sign the heart is under strain. Your age, kidney function and heart rhythm all shape what it means. Always read your result against the range printed on your own report.
A hormone the heart releases when it is under strain.
The heart's lower chambers release BNP when they are stretched by extra pressure or fluid. Doctors use it mainly to check for heart failure, when the heart pumps or fills less well. Levels rise gently with age and run a little higher in women.
Is my BNP high or low?
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Typical range
| For | Range | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Adults · limit rises with age | under 100 | pg/mL |
Typical ranges for adults. Labs differ a little, so the range printed next to your result is the one to go by.
If your BNP is high
A raised BNP can be a sign the heart is under strain. Your age, kidney function and heart rhythm all shape what it means.
Common reasons
- Older age, since BNP rises gently over the years
- Reduced kidney function, which clears BNP more slowly
- An irregular heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation)
- High blood pressure or a heart valve problem that strains the heart
- Lung conditions that strain the right side of the heart
- Heart failure, when the heart pumps or fills less well than it should
- Less often: a blood clot in the lungs or a recent heart attack
What can throw it off
Extra body weight tends to lower BNP, and one heart failure medicine raises BNP but not NT-proBNP.
Questions to take to your appointment
- 1Could my age, kidneys or heart rhythm explain this level?
- 2Do I need a heart ultrasound (echocardiogram)?
- 3Should it be repeated to see if it changes?
Read together with
Doctors rarely read BNP alone. These usually sit next to it.
- eGFRAn estimate of how much blood your kidneys filter each minute.
- CreatinineA waste product from muscles that the kidneys clear.
- SodiumA mineral salt (electrolyte) that keeps the body's water in balance.
- HemoglobinThe protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.
- TSHA brain hormone that tells the thyroid how hard to work.
Quick answers
What is the BNP blood test?
BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide): A hormone the heart releases when it is under strain. The heart's lower chambers release BNP when they are stretched by extra pressure or fluid. Doctors use it mainly to check for heart failure, when the heart pumps or fills less well. Levels rise gently with age and run a little higher in women.
What is a normal BNP level?
For most adults, BNP is typically under 100 pg/mL (limit rises with age). Labs differ a little, so the range printed next to your result is the one to go by.
What does a high BNP mean?
A raised BNP can be a sign the heart is under strain. Your age, kidney function and heart rhythm all shape what it means. Common reasons include older age, since BNP rises gently over the years; reduced kidney function, which clears BNP more slowly; an irregular heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation); and high blood pressure or a heart valve problem that strains the heart. A doctor reads it together with your other results and how you feel.
What can affect my BNP result?
Extra body weight tends to lower BNP, and one heart failure medicine raises BNP but not NT-proBNP.
What should I ask my doctor about my BNP?
Questions worth taking to the appointment: Could my age, kidneys or heart rhythm explain this level? Do I need a heart ultrasound (echocardiogram)? Should it be repeated to see if it changes?
What this page can’t do
It reads each number on its own.
Doctors read results together — ALT with AST, ferritin with hemoglobin, TSH with free T4. A pattern says more than any single flag.
It doesn't know you.
Your age, your medicines, how you feel and your last result all change what a number means.
It doesn't remember.
Close this page and your results are gone. That's on purpose: nothing was ever sent to us.
We also make Vita: Health Coach, an app for those parts. It reads your whole report with your medicines and history in mind, answers follow-up questions in plain words, and keeps your reports in one place — for you and for the people you look after.
Vita: Health Coach on the App StoreSources
- Mayo Clinic Laboratories — B-Type Natriuretic Peptide, Plasma
- Cleveland Clinic — B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) test
- ABIM — Laboratory Test Reference Ranges (January 2026)
Stuck on a word? See the medical words. How we choose our sources. More about Vita Health Coach.