Diagnostic Use
CRP is a protein produced by the liver. Its production is regulated by cytokines. The plasma CRP level is also partly genetically determined. It is most commonly used as a marker of inflammation, and it has a role as a cardiovascular risk marker.
Elevation indicates acute phase response or active disease in chronic inflammatory disorders. CRP is a more sensitive early indicator of an acute phase response than ESR. It also returns toward normal more rapidly with improvement or resolution of the disease process.
The test is less sensitive than the ESR for some disorders e.g., SLE, RA and other connective tissue diseases including ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, systemic sclerosis, antiphospholipid syndrome.
In well patients CRP has some utility as a CVD risk marker. In this context it is called high sensitivity or hsCRP as the levels measured are usually below 5mg/L. This use of CRP requires a special high sensitivity assay, which is not available at Counties lab.
Test Method
Principle: Immunoturbidimetric
Analyser: Roche Diagnostics Cobas c703/c503
Reagent: CRPL3