BNP is also called plasma brain natriuretic peptide, while NT-proBNP is also called amino-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide precursor. There is still a big difference between these two, as BNP is cleared mainly by binding to BNP clearance receptors. The half-life of BNP is relatively short, around 22 minutes, and its in vitro stability is poor. In contrast, NT-proBNP has a longer half-life of about 120 minutes and is more stable in vitro, and the concentration of NT-proBNP in heart failure patients is higher than that of BNP. Relatively speaking, NT-proBNP is more useful for the diagnosis of heart failure.