Interpretation of Results:

Normal Range:
- Normal troponin-I levels vary slightly depending on the laboratory, but typically, they are below 0.04 ng/mL. Levels higher than this can indicate heart muscle damage.
Elevated Levels:
- Mild to moderate increases in troponin-I levels may suggest a minor heart injury or unstable angina.
- High levels typically point to a significant injury, such as a heart attack, and are correlated with a worse prognosis.
Timing of Rise:
- Troponin-I levels begin to rise within 3-6 hours of heart muscle injury and peak around 12-24 hours. They can stay elevated for up to 1-2 weeks.

Factors Affecting Results:

False positives can occur due to conditions like kidney failure, severe infections, and certain muscle injuries, as troponin is also found in skeletal muscles.
False negatives might occur in the early hours following an acute heart attack, as troponin levels may not have risen yet.