Cardiac-specific Troponin I (cTnI) is a protein found in the heart that elevates with heart attacks. It may be ordered with other biomarkers such as CKMB and Myoglobin for confirmation however Troponin I levels remain elevated for longer periods of time than CKMB (it will remain high for 1-2 weeks following an heart attack). The troponin test is usually ordered when a patient first comes into the emergency room with chest pain then again at 6 and 12 hours. The troponin test is used to help diagnose a heart attack, to detect and evaluate mild to severe heart injury, and to separate it from chest pain that may be due to other causes.