Microvolt T-Wave Alternans™ (MTWA)
Test Overview

T-wave Alternans refers to an alternating pattern in the T-wave portion of the surface electrocardiogram (ECG).

Cambridge Heart’s proprietary Analytic Spectral Method® is able to detect subtle, Microvolt T-wave Alternans™ (MTWA) not visible to the human eye. Clinical studies show that MTWA is a marker of arrhythmic vulnerability and SCA risk.

MTWA is linked to beat-to-beat alternations in the action potential duration of individual cardiac cells. Evidence suggests that intracellular calcium cycling is the underlying mechanism for cardiac alternans.

MTWA is a heart-rate dependent phenomenon typically measured during a low-level exercise stress test using multi-segment electrodes (sensors) to minimize noise and physiologic sources of artifact.