A c-reactive protein The test determines the level of of c-reactive protein (CRP) blood sample.CRP is a protein what your liver cooks. Usually the levels are lower of c-reactive protein in your blood. If there is inflammation in your body, your liver gives more CRP to your bloodstream; an increase in CRP content means you have a serious health problem that causes inflammation.
Inflammation is a way to protect your tissues and help defend against injury, infection or other disease. Inflammation can be acute (sudden) and temporary. This picture of inflammation is usually useful. For example, cutting one’s skin may cause redness, swelling, and pain for several days. These are symptoms of inflammation. Inflammation can also occur in the body.
If inflammation persists for a long time, healthy tissue is destroyed. This is called (long-term) inflammation. Acquired infections, certain autoimmune diseases, and other conditions can cause harmful chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation can also occur when tissues are repeatedly damaged or irritated, for example, by smoking or chemicals in the environment.
The CRP test can indicate if and how much inflammation is present in the body. However, the test cannot indicate which part of the body is inflamed or the cause of the inflammation.
Other names: c-reactive protein , serum
What is it used for?
The CRP test can help find or confirm inflammation in acute or acquired disorders, including
- Microbial or viral infections.
- Inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and other bowel disorders.
- Autoimmune disorders such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and vasculitis.
- Non-energetic diseases such as asthma.
Care providers can use CRP analysis to see if healing of acquired inflammation works or to make a statement about treatment if sepsis is present. Sepsis is your body’s last response to infection spreading into the bloodstream. It is life – critical essential medical support.
Why do you need a CRP test?
You may need this test if you have signs of a bacterial infection, for example
- Fever or chills.
- Fast heartbeat
- Rapid breathing
- Nausea and vomiting
A CRP test may also be needed if there is a chronic condition that appears to cause inflammation. Symptoms vary from condition to condition.
If you have already been diagnosed with an infection or chronic disease that causes inflammation, you may need this test to predict and treat fitness. Depending on how much inflammation is in your body, your CRP value will increase; if the value of CRP decreases, this is a symptom that you are healing or autonomously healing inflammation.
What happens during the CRP test?
The caregiver takes blood from a vein in your arm with a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood is collected into a test tube or vial. You can feel some pressure as the needle is dislodged or goes out. This process usually takes less than 5 minutes.
Do I need to prepare for the test?
Some medications may affect your results. Tell your doctor about any supplements or medications you take, including ibuprofen, aspirin, and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Do not use prescription medications without first consulting your Internet provider.
Was there any risk associated with the test?
There are no sufficient risks associated with blood testing. The area where the needle is inserted can be slightly sore or bruised, but most signs disappear quickly.
What do the results mean?
The results of the CRP test indicate the number of inflammations associated with inflammation in the body. However, your test results do not tell you what inflammation causes. To make a diagnosis, your doctor will look at the CRP test results in combination with the results of other tests, symptoms, and disease conditions.
In general, healthy people have relatively low levels of CRP in their blood. Above normal, it means there is inflammation in the body. However, because laboratories define SRB values differently and define the “normal” SRB spectrum differently, it is more important than others to question what the results mean.
What do I actually need to know about the CRP test?
The CRP test is sometimes confused with the High Sensitivity (HS) CRP test. Both detect CRP, but are used for different criteria; the HS-CRP test detects fairly small increases in CRP levels. It is used to assess psychological and vascular risk.
Supplied by MedlinePlus from the State Medical Library.
