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Epic Test Code LAB149 C-Reactive Protein (Inflammatory)

Performing Location(s)

BMC,CRH,LFH,OCH,FTT,FOX 

Specimen Type

Serum or Plasma

Preferred Container

Gold or Red top

Alternate Container

Green top

Blood Tube Draw Volume

Min 50% draw volume  

Minimum Volume to Submit for Testing

0.5 mL Serum/Plasma

  • Multiple test can be performed from this volume. For question please contact the lab at 547-3975.  

Storage Requirements

Sample tubes should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection 

Gold tops are stable in original tubes for 24 hours DO NOT ALIQUOT

Aliquot Red tops

See Causes of Rejection for temperature requirements.

Transportation Needs

 Deliver specimen to laboratory within 1 hour of collection if unspun. If not possible see "storage Requirements". 

Causes for Rejection

Mislabeled or unlabeled specimen

Less than 50% draw for Vacutainer tubes

> 24 hours Gold top
>  7 days refrigerated 
>  3 days room temperature 
> 2 months Frozen
Citrate, Heparin,NaF,Oxalate
Hemolysis > 500 mg/dL HgB
Lipemia > 1000 mg/dL Trig
Bilirubin > 40 mg/dL Bili

Limitations

The manufacturer states that this CRP "assay can meet the requirements for determining patients at high risk for Cardiovascular Disease — but should be used as intended, along with other biochemical markers and with a cutoff of >0.3 mg/dL. The assay is not intended to meet the 2003 guidelines for differentiating Low from Moderate risk.

The Cardiac C-Reactive Protein (CCRP) is intended to evaluate cardiovascular risk.

Lipemic samples (triglyceride >800 mg/dL[>17.1 mmol/L]) should not be used or must be clarified by ultracentrifugation prior to analysis)

Reference Values

Test use: Units Result Interpretation
Inflammatory CRP mg/dL 0.1-1.0 Normal, Noninflammatory
Notes:
* Progressive increases correlate with increases of inflammation/injury or very high cardiovascular risk.
* Increases in CRP values are non-specific and should not be interpreted without a complete clinical history.
* Recent medical events resulting in tissue injury, infections or inflammation, which may cause elevated CRP results, should also be considered when interpreting results.
* Oral contraceptives may increase CRP levels.
* This test can be used as a marker of inflammation. Measuring and following CRP values can be useful in determining disease progress or effectiveness of treatments. Viral infections tend to yield lower CRP levels than bacterial infection.
* This test has a functional sensitivity of 0.3 mg/dL so cannot reliably differentiate cardiac risk.
* For cardiovascular risk assessment, see Cardiac C-Reactive Protein (CCRP).

 

Days of Analysis

All

Available STAT

Yes

Additional Information

Additional Information:

C-Reactive Protein is one of the “acute phase” proteins, the serum or plasma levels of which rise during a general, unspecific response to infections and non-infectious inflammatory processes such as rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease and peripheral vascular disease. CRP is synthesized in liver and is normally present as a trace constituent of serum or plasma.

 

In various disease states resulting in tissue injury, infection or inflammation, CRP values may rise above normal to 2 to 50 mg/dL within four to eight hours after an acute event. Since elevated CRP values are always associated with pathological changes, the CRP assay provides useful information for the diagnosis, therapy, and monitoring of inflammatory diseases.

 

Increases in CRP values are non-specific and should not be interpreted without a complete clinical history.

 

The CRP is a more sensitive, rapidly responding indicator than the ESR. The CRP rises quickly after an inflammatory event (begins in 4 to 6 hours) and returns to normal within a week while the ESR rises slowly in response to increasing production of fibrinogen by the liver, and falls slowly as well. With the exception of usage as a monitor for certain rheumatologic conditions, CRP may be considered a replacement for the ESR.

Methodology

Beckman AU/Dx Series

CPT Code

86140

Last Updated

26-OCT-24 MS