Is normally not found in blood but appears and rises rapidly where there is tissue necrosis. This is why it is a health risk due to its role in inflammation during atherogenesis. CRP reacts with many other substances (acts as a scavenger) such as DNA nucleotides, lipids, and polysaccharides. Its molecular weight is between 118,000, 144,000 Da with a substantial CHO content. .
Normal levels for an adult are between 470-1340 ng/mL.
CRP is elevated is also elevated in:
- Bacterial infections
- Rheumatic fever RA
- Trauma
- Neoplastic proliferations
- Auto immune diseases
CRP is decreased in:
- Viral infections
There are two (2) types of CRP assays:
- Wide range used for infections lab range .3-20mg/dL
- High sensitivity-can detect low levels of CRP measuring levels from .o1mg/dL which is the one of choice for detecting inflammation due to tissue necrosis/cardiac problem.
Why is CRP Tested?
A CRP test is a simple blood test that measures the level of CRP in your blood. It's used to:
- Diagnose and Monitor Inflammatory Conditions: CRP can help diagnose conditions like infections, autoimmune diseases, and inflammatory bowel disease.
- Assess Risk of Heart Disease: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) tests can help assess your risk of developing heart disease.
A normal C-reactive protein (CRP) level is typically less than 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L):
- Low: Less than 1.0 mg/dL
- Average: 1.0–3.0 mg/dL
- High: Greater than 3.0 mg/dL