C-Reactive Protein (CRP)

Preferred Specimen(s) 1 mL serum

Transport Container Plastic screw-cap vial

Transport Temperature Refrigerated 1 week

Reject Criteria

Gross hemolysis
Lipemia

Methodology Nephelometry

Clinical Significance Increased CRP levels are found in inflammatory conditions including: bacterial infection, rheumatic fever, active arthritis, myocardial infarction, malignancies and in the post-operative state. This test cannot detect the relatively small elevations of CRP that are associated with increased cardiovascular risk.