Brief summary:

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein that the liver makes when there is inflammation in the body. It’s also called a marker of inflammation and can be measured with an hs-CRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) test, sometimes also called a CRP test. It can be used to help evaluate an individual for risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

 

Technical Process:

A high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) test may be used to help evaluate an individual for risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). CRP is a protein that increases in the blood with inflammation.

 

What do these tests do:

The high-sensitivity CRP test measures low levels of CRP in the blood to identify low levels of inflammation that are associated with the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). … The standard CRP test measures markedly high levels of the protein to detect diseases that cause significant inflammation.

 

Test results:

C-reactive protein is measured in milligrams of CRP per liter of blood (mg/L). In general, a low C-reactive protein level is better than a high one, because it indicates less inflammation in the body.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, a reading of less than 1 mg/L indicates you’re at low risk of cardiovascular disease. A reading between 1 and 2.9 mg/L means you’re at intermediate risk. A reading greater than 3 mg/L means you’re at high risk for cardiovascular disease. A reading above 10 mg/L may signal a need for further testing to determine the cause of such significant inflammation in your body.

 

Sources:

https://www.healthline.com/health/c-reactive-protein#results