C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Test: Price, Purpose, Range & Results
Medically Reviewed By
Dr Divya Rohra
Written By Komal Daryani
on May 9, 2022
Last Edit Made By Komal Daryani
on Oct 29, 2025
When the body is threatened by bacteria or other cellular invaders, the liver releases CRP into the bloodstream to help regulate the body's defenses. Doctors measure C-reactive protein because it indicates inflammation that is occurring as part of the body's response to disease or injury.
If you have symptoms of inflammation such as fever and chills, hot flashes, nausea, vomiting, rapid breathing, and/or fast heartbeat, your doctor may recommend a CRP test.
CRP Blood Test Help In Many Ways:
- Help treat sepsis, a life-threatening condition where the body's response to a bacterial infection causes widespread inflammation.
- Track the onset of an autoimmune disease that causes persistent inflammation, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.
- Evaluation of the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases
Because of the above reasons, a doctor may include this test in an advance plus full body checkup.
The Purpose Of CRP Test:
The level of CRP in your blood is measured by a C-reactive protein test:
- CRP Test can tell whether or not your body is inflamed and how severe it is. The liver produces C-reactive protein (CRP).
- The acute phase response indicates this initial response. Inflammation or inflammatory response are two other terms for it. Chronic diseases such as autoimmune diseases can stimulate the acute phase response
- CRP is classified as an acute phase positive reactor because it is the primary responder.
- The level determined by the blood sample informs the doctor about the presence and severity of the inflammation.
CRP blood test, on the other hand, don't tell your doctor where the inflammation is or what your body is producing.
Signs And Symptoms Of A Spikes In The C-Reactive Protein Test:
There are no specific signs or symptoms that may indicate an increase in CRP levels as this is not a specific test. The signs or symptoms, if any, will depend on any disease.
Increased Level Of C-Reactive Protein:
In general, the leading causes of elevated CRP and other markers of inflammation are several conditions, including:
- Burns,
- Shock,
- Infections such as pneumonia or tuberculosis.
- Heart attack
- Chronic inflammatory diseases such as lupus, vasculitis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Inflammatory bowel disease and
- Certain types of cancer
When Should I Get A CRP Blood Test?
CRP testing is primarily used to detect or monitor inflammation-related health conditions. A CRP test, for example, may be recommended if you have signs and symptoms of:
- Infection with bacteria or viruses
- Autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
- Most importantly, CRP levels can provide additional information about a person's heart risk and other well-known risk factors,
- Minor inflammation is caused by a number of factors, including smoking, diabetes, and physical trauma, age, high B.P, high cholesterol, and obesity.
Because there are no strict guidelines for when C-reactive protein test should have performed, it is critical to consult with your health care provider to determine if a CRP test is appropriate in your situation.
Obtaining A C-Reactive Protein Test:
CRP test is determined by taking a blood sample from a vein. Your arm will be pierced and a small amount of blood will be drawn. Blood collection is usually done in a hospital laboratory or clinic, but it can also be done in a doctor's office or on a hospital bed. It only takes a few minutes to get blood
How Are Normal And Elevated Levels Of C-Reactive Protein Measured?
C-reactive protein is a sign of inflammation and is not detected in the blood until there is inflammation in the body. CRP is measured using a sample of blood from a vein. Conventional CRP measurements are often used to diagnose infections in the body. A doctor may prescribe C-reactive protein test to check for inflammatory conditions.
The more sensitive CRP detection scale is currently being used to assess cardiovascular risk. Since the CRP level can be measured at any time due to an infection or inflammation in the body, a measurement is generally not considered a good indicator of cardiovascular risk.
CRP Blood Test For Infection:
You can get a CRP test if the doctor suspects you have fungal or serious bacterial infections such as tuberculosis, sepsis, or pneumonia. Again, the test will not show the location of the disease or its cause. If your CRP level is high, this shows your healthcare provider and their suspicions about the disease may be true and further investigation may be required to find the source.
CRP Test For Inflammatory Disease That Are Chronic:
In cases of chronic inflammatory diseases such as inflammation of rheumatoid (RA), and inflammatory bowel disease and their progress, physicians can use advance plus full body checkup including the CRP test to evaluate the effectiveness of specific treatments and all periods of disease and inflammatory disease.
CRP is possible at a low level but does not necessarily indicate that there is no inflammation. CRP levels may not increase in some people with rheumatoid arthritis, but this is unclear. People with lupus always have high levels of CRP because the side effects of these conditions prevent CRP production.
C-reactive protein test can also be used for one of them or other suspicious inflammatory diseases, perhaps because you are presented with symptoms such as fatigue, fever, and weight loss. Although the results can only be determined, detected, a piece of the puzzle that helps the physicians to understand why you feel that way.
In special cases where rheumatoid arthritis is suspected, your doctor may order additional blood test, such as advance plus full body checkup that test for rheumatoid factor (RF).
CRP Blood Test For Cardiovascular Diseases:
Studies have shown that high levels of C-reactive protein can be linked to an increased risk of heart attack. CRP test can identify the risk of heart attack in people with normal cholesterol, otherwise it has not been reported.
However, higher amounts of C-reactive protein don't necessarily mean a higher risk of heart disease. Remember, this test does not show the site of inflammation, it just shows inflammation somewhere in your body.
Other Causes:
If your CRP test is positive, your doctor may do more tests to look for other causes of inflammation if the cause is unknown. Other conditions that can increase CRP levels include:
- Rheumatic fever
- cancer
- Heart attack
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- Connective tissue disease
- Pregnancy
Disclaimer:
The blog content has been posted as a piece of information and awareness only. The content provided in this blog, or in any linked materials, are not proposed and should not be taken as medical advice. Redcliffe Labs strongly recommends users to consult with their health care providers to make any medical or health-related decision.
