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Unit Code 9731:
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 1 of the most sensitive acute-phase

reactants for inflammation. CRP is synthesized by the liver and

consists of 5 identical polypeptide chains that form a 5-membered

ring with a molecular weight of 120,000 daltons. CRP levels can

increase dramatically (100-fold or more) after severe trauma,

bacterial infection, inflammation, surgery, or neoplastic proliferation.

CRP has been used to assess activity of inflammatory disease,

to detect infections after surgery, to detect transplant rejection,

and to monitor these inflammatory processes.

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 increase CRP levels.

 

#82047 "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