Test Details & Preparation

• C - reactive protein test is done to identify the presence of inflammation and to monitor response to treatment for an inflammatory disorder.


• C - reactive protein test is performed when your doctor suspects that you have an acute condition causing inflammation, such as a serious bacterial or fungal infection or when you are suffering from an inflammatory disorder such as arthritis, an autoimmune disorder, or inflammatory bowel disease.


• A blood sample taken from a vein in your arm for a C - reactive protein test.


• No preparation is needed for a C - reactive protein test.


• The level of CRP in the blood is normally low.


• A high or increasing amount of CRP in the blood suggests the presence of inflammation but will not identify its location or the cause. In individuals suspected of having a serious bacterial infection, a high CRP can be confirmatory.


• If the CRP level is initially elevated and drops, it means that the inflammation or infection is subsiding or responding to treatment.