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Unit Code 200215:
C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Serum

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Useful For

Detecting systemic inflammatory processes

 

Detecting infection and assessing response to antibiotic treatment

of bacterial infections

 

Differentiating between active and inactive disease forms with

Concurrent infection

Clinical Information

C-reactive protein (CRP) is one of the most sensitive acute-phase
reactants. Plasma CRP levels can be increased dramatically (100 fold

or more) after severe trauma, bacterial infection, inflammation,

surgery, or neoplastic proliferation. Standard measurements of

CRP have been used to assess activity of inflammatory disease,

to detect infections after surgery, to detect transplant rejection,

and to monitor these inflammatory processes.

 

Two levels of sensitivity are available in CRP testing: 1) CRP for

monitoring or assessing inflammatory disorders (#200215) and

2) high-sensitivity CRP (#124005 "C-Reactive Protein, High

Sensitivity, Serum") for assessing risk of cardiovascular disease

or events.

Reference Values

< or =8.0 mg/L

Interpretation

Elevated values are consistent with an acute inflammatory process.

Cautions

Elevated CRP values are nonspecific and should not be interpreted
without a complete clinical history.

 

Oral contraceptives may affect CRP levels.

 

#124005 "C-Reactive Protein, High Sensitivity, Serum" is the

appropriate CRP test to order to assess risk of cardiovascular

disease or events.

Special Instructions and Forms

• An Expanded Algorithm for the Laboratory Evaluation of Suspected Multiple Myeloma 

Clinical Reference

Tietz NW, Burtis CA, Ashwood ER:  In Tietz Textbook of Clinical

Chemistry. 3rd edition. Edited by CA Burtis, ER Ashwood.

Philadelphia, WB Saunders Company, 1999

Key