But Einstein, who was not part of the study, said not all patients are candidates for the test, because they need to have a slow heart rate, and can’t have lots of irregular heartbeats.

Einstein estimates about 85 percent of patients who are seen for suspected heart disease are good candidates for the test, which is available in many hospitals across the country.

“I think it is certainly reasonable to ask if they are being sent to an imaging facility that has the capability of using this” technique, he told Reuters Health.

“It is always a balance of the benefits and risks of the testing options available,” he added. “In general, if there is a non-invasive test that works as well as an invasive one, that’s going to be a better choice for a patient than an invasive test.”

SOURCE: Annals of Internal Medicine, March 15, 2011.