CRP is an acute‑phase reactant that rises rapidly in response to inflammation, infection, or tissue injury.

Clinical uses include:

Detecting acute bacterial infections.

Monitoring chronic inflammatory diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, lupus).

Assessing cardiovascular risk (high‑sensitivity CRP, hs‑CRP).

Evaluating response to treatment in infections or inflammatory disorders.

CRP levels rise within 6–8 hours of onset and may increase up to 1000‑fold in severe inflammation.

Often performed alongside ESR, CBC, and procalcitonin for comprehensive evaluation.

Analyte: C‑Reactive Protein in serum/plasma.

Normal Range (varies by lab):

CRP: < 10 mg/L (general inflammation marker).

hs‑CRP: < 3 mg/L (cardiac risk marker).

Abnormal Findings:

Elevated CRP: Suggests acute infection, inflammation, trauma, or chronic disease activity.

Very high CRP (>100 mg/L): Often indicates severe bacterial infection or sepsis.

Clinical Use:

Provides a sensitive marker of inflammation and infection.

Helps guide diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment planning.

Supports internal medicine, cardiology, rheumatology, and infectious disease evaluations.