IFCC recommendation on the use of biochemical markers of cardiac damage in acute coronary syndrome is here introduced, explained and discussed. Lack of standardization namely for troponin I and myoglobin is mentioned and explained. Requirements for turn around time, cut-of values and precisio n of measurement and their implications for routine analytical performance are discussed. The uncertainty of measurement, calculated from results of internal quality control is higher than required values. Problems about POCT are analysed also. We are focusing on significance of recent cardiac markers for diagnosis of minor myocardial damage and for metaanalytic data on these markers. We demonstrate the ability of troponins to stratify the risk of acute myocardial infarction and sudden coronary death. Continuity of new biochemical cardiac markers and modern invasive therapy of myocardial damage is discussed on our communication.

        Key words: IFCC recommendation, acute coronary syndrome, myoglobin, troponin I, troponin T.