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C Reactive Protein

Alternate Name: CRP

SAL Code:

803

CPT:

86140

Loinc:

1988-5

Turn Around Time:

1 Day

Setup:

Daily

Units:

mg/L

Department:

Special Chemistry

Performing Laboratory:

Sherman Abrams Laboratory

Specimen Requirements:

Primary Tube:

SST

Primary Substance:

Serum

Temperature

Period

Stable Ambient:

7 Days

Stable Fridge:

7 Days

Stable Frozen:

28 Days

Rejection Criteria:

Gross hemolysis; lipemia; improper labeling

Clinical Info:

Increased CRP levels are found in inflammatory conditions including: bacterial infection, rheumatic fever, active arthritis, myocardial infarction, malignancies and in other conditions that may cause inflamation. This test cannot detect the relatively small elevations of CRP that are associated with increased cardiovascular risk. If you are looking for high sensitive CRP please order SAL# 733.

Additional Information:

The C-reactive protein (CRP) test is used by a health practitioner to detect inflammation. CRP is an acute phase reactant, a protein made by the liver and released into the blood within a few hours after tissue injury, the start of an infection, or other cause of inflammation. The CRP test is not diagnostic of any condition, but it can be used together with signs and symptoms and other tests to evaluate an individual for an acute or chronic inflammatory condition. CRP may sometimes be ordered along with an erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (SAL# 203), another test that detects inflammation. While the CRP test is not specific enough to diagnose a particular disease, it does serve as a general marker for infection and inflammation, thus alerting health practitioners that further testing and treatment may be necessary. Depending on the suspected cause, a number of other tests may be performed to identify the source of inflammation.

Sample Collection:

Collect patient samples using standard phlebotomy techniques. Click here for additional collection instructions.

Test Limitations:

Oral contraceptives, IUDs, pregnancy, and menstruation may raise CRP levels. Levels are lowest during ovulation. CRP arises as a nonspecific response to tissue injury and general inflammation, thus it becomes a poor tool to identify specific causes of inflammation and should be used in conjunction with additional laboratory testing and patients clinical presentation to make a determining diagnosis.

Test Information:

Components:

Brooklyn Navy Yard
Building 292, Suite 416
63 Flushing Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205

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