C-reactive analysis CRP (CRP) is a blood test that shows how much inflammation you have in your body. It’s part of a group of proteins called acute phase reactants that go up when you have an infection or injury. CRP triggers white blood cells to respond to inflammation and clear bacteria or dead or dying cells from your body. A doctor might order this test to help find the cause of your symptoms or health problems. They might also use it to watch for flare-ups of a chronic inflammatory disease like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis or to see how well treatment is working. A doctor may also use a more precise version of this test, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), to assess your risk for heart disease.

A crp blood test is a noninvasive procedure. A healthcare professional draws your blood from a vein, usually on the inside of your elbow or back of your hand. You may need to fast before this test, depending on what you’re being tested for.

CRP Blood Test: A Key Marker for Inflammation and Disease Risk Assessment

Your doctor will look at your hs-CRP results in the context of other tests, symptoms and your medical history. They might recommend more testing or conservative treatments, such as a healthy diet, regular exercise, weight loss and smoking cessation.

You might need to pay for this test if your insurance doesn’t cover it. The cost can vary, depending on how you get the test done. Typically, this includes the fee for the phlebotomist who takes your sample and the laboratory’s processing and analysis fees. It’s important to talk with your health care provider if you have concerns about the cost.