C-reactive protein test

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein made by the liver and released into the blood in response to inflammation. It plays an important role in the immune process. 

The CRP test measures the level of a protein in your blood called C-reactive protein (CRP). The level of CRP increases when you have certain autoimmune diseases that cause inflammation, such as arthritis,(external link) inflammatory bowel disease (eg, Crohn's disease(external link) or ulcerative colitis(external link)), or if you have an infection such as pneumonia.(external link)

The serum CRP level in a “healthy” person is usually less than 5 mg per L. This will begin to rise 4–8 hours after tissue is damaged. It peaks within 24–72 hours, and returns to normal 2–3 days after the inflammation or infection has stopped.

To diagnose and monitor inflammation

The CRP test can be used to check for inflammation in your body. It is requested when your doctor suspects that you might have an inflammatory disorder. It does not show what is causing the inflammation or where the inflammation is located. It is requested for:

• diagnosis – to check whether you have an inflammatory condition such as arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease or other autoimmune disorders
• monitoring – if you have already been diagnosed with an inflammatory disorder, to monitor the disease and see how well your treatment is working. If your treatment is working well, and the inflammation lessens, the level of CRP in your blood will drop. 

To diagnose and monitor infection

If you have symptoms of an infection in your chest or airways (upper respiratory tract infection) such as dry cough, sore throat, runny nose and sneezing, your doctor may perform a CRP test to decide whether or not to prescribe antibiotics. Infection caused by bacteria results in a greater rise in CRP compared with infections caused by viruses. Antibiotics are only effective against infections caused by bacteria and are not effective against infections caused by viruses.

A CRP level less than 10 mg per L suggests that you don't have a bacterial infection and therefore a prescription for an antibiotic is likely to do more harm than good. This is because it's likely that the potential side effects of the antibiotic medication outweigh any clinical benefits.

You don't need to do anything before having this test, unless it is combined with a test being done for another reason. Your doctor will advise you on this. The CRP test can be done at any time of the day. 

Regular CRP test

A regular CRP test is usually done at your local blood collection centre.(external link)(external link)(external link) An elastic band is wrapped firmly around your upper arm. This helps the veins below expand, making it easier to draw blood from. The injection site is cleaned with an alcohol swab before a needle is inserted into your vein.

You may feel nothing at all from the needle, or you may feel a small brief sting or pinch. The blood sample is collected in a tube, which is sent to the laboratory for analysis.

Point-of-care CRP test

In some cases, your doctor may perform a CRP test in their surgery. This is called a point-of-care CRP test. This is a finger-prick blood test where your doctor will gently prick and squeeze your finger for a small blood sample.

The blood sample is collected in a tiny tube, which is analysed by a portable machine in the surgery. The results of the point-of-care CRP test are available within a few minutes.

On its own, a CRP test rarely provides a diagnosis, but it can confirm the presence of inflammation or infection. An increasing or high amount of CRP in your blood suggests acute inflammation or infection. As the inflammation or infection lessens, the CRP level drops.