What Is Normal Range For C Reactive Protein

What Is The Crp Normal Value

CRP values are always measured in mg/L, where mg is milligrams of CRP in one liter of blood. The CRP normal range is always below 1mg/L. This also ascertains the fact that you are at low risk for acquiring cardiovascular diseases. If values exceed the CRP test normal range, it indicates that there is some inflammation that may require medical intervention. If the values lie between 1-2.9mg/L, you may be at intermediate risk for heart ailments. However, if your values shoot up beyond 3mg/L, there is a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. In case the value increases more than 10mg/L, this is an indication of significant inflammation. In such cases, there are chances that you may have been infected with conditions like:

Crp Levels And The Diagnosis Of Rheumatoid Arthritis

No single test can confirm that you have RA. However, measuring levels of CRP in your blood can be part of a comprehensive diagnosis. A doctor can use your CRP levels to track the degree of inflammation over time.

If youre getting tested for RA, the doctor will likely order a standard CRP test rather than an hsCRP test.

To confirm a diagnosis of RA, the doctor will:

• analyze results from other lab tests, such as the rheumatoid factor antibody test and cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody test
• assess levels of morning stiffness and the amount of swelling and pain in your joints
• document the duration of your symptoms
• examine X-rays of the hands and feet to check for erosions or bone damage

How Are Chills Treated

Layering clothes or getting to a warm place can make cold chills go away. You can also drink hot chocolate, coffee or tea to raise your internal body temperature.

If an illness, infection or another health problem causes chills, treating the condition should get rid of the symptom. Treatments vary depending on the underlying cause. They may include:

• Antibiotics for bacterial and parasitic infections.
• Antiviral medications for viral infections.
• Over-the-counter medicine, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen , for conditions like flu that cause fevers and chills.

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When A Doctor May Order A Crp Test

Your physician may order a C-reactive protein test if you have symptoms of a serious bacterial or viral infection, such as:

• Fever or chills
• Irregular heart rate
• Rapid breathing

Your physician may also request a CRP test to monitor ongoing treatment if youve been diagnosed with a chronic autoimmune disease like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis to monitor for level of current inflammation. If treatment is working, inflammation and C-reactive protein levels should drop.

Typically, CRP tests are fast and accurate. However, if you have only slightly elevated C-reactive protein levels, the test can be challenging to interpret because of numerous potential conditions that can cause this effect. High CRP is a biomarker, meaning its one factor to consider when assessing someones health, but it does not give a source of inflammation. A high CRP level is not a stand-alone diagnosis.

Because primary healthcare providers cannot always draw solid conclusions from levels of C-reactive protein alone, they may also order other tests to provide a more comprehensive overview of your health.

To Diagnose And Monitor Infection

If you have symptoms of an infection in your chest or airways such as dry cough, sore throat, runny nose and sneezing, your doctor may perform a CRP test to decide whether or not to prescribe antibiotics. Infection caused by bacteria results in a greater rise in CRP compared with infections caused by viruses. Antibiotics are only effective against infections caused by bacteria and are not effective against infections caused by viruses.

A CRP level less than 10 mg per L suggests that you don’t have a bacterial infection and therefore a prescription for an antibiotic is likely to do more harm than good. This is because it’s likely that the potential side effects of the antibiotic medication outweigh any clinical benefits.

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What Other Tests Might I Have Along With This Test

Because the CRP test tells you only if you have inflammation and doesn’t pinpoint what is causing it, your healthcare provider will likely order more tests. These may include:

• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate test. Like the CRP, this test measures inflammation. It’s not as sensitive as the CRP. But it’s easy to do and gives more information. So many healthcare providers will order it at the same time.

• Antinuclear antibody test. The ANA test measures autoantibodies that attack your cells. This is important in diagnosing some autoimmune diseases, such as lupus.

• Rheumatoid factor . This test is done to help diagnose and monitor rheumatoid arthritis.

• Anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies. This test is done to help diagnose and monitor rheumatoid arthritis.

How Can I Reduce My Risk For Periodontitis

The best way to prevent periodontitis is to have regular dental cleanings and practice good oral hygiene at home between visits. People who are prone to periodontitis may require more frequent cleanings than people without gum disease. Ask your dentist how often you should have your teeth cleaned to maintain optimal oral health.

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Impact On Heart Disease Risk

Scientists have found that lower CRP levels were linked with a lower risk of heart disease, and vice versa. It is now generally accepted that CRP levels can help predict the future risk of heart disease even in apparently healthy people .

CRP levels are associated with heart disease risk, as follows :

• Low risk: hs-CRP level under 1.0 mg/L
• Average risk: between 1.0 and 3.0 mg/L
• High risk: above 3.0 mg/L
• Very high risk: 5-10 mg/L
• Above 10 mg/L clinically significant inflammatory states

CRP levels complement cholesterol levels to give a more accurate prediction of a persons cardiovascular risk .

For example, based on a study in almost 28k apparently healthy American women, when both CRP and cholesterol levels were high, a persons overall risk of a cardiovascular event increased up to 9-fold compared with that of a person with low CRP and cholesterol levels .

What Does The Test Measure

The test measures the amount of CRP in your blood. CRP levels can reflect the presence and severity of inflammation in your body.

CRP is a protein produced by the liver. When bacteria or other cellular invaders threaten the body, the liver releases CRP into the bloodstream to help organize the bodys defenses. This early response is called an acute phase response. It is also referred to as inflammation or aninflammatory response. The acute phase response also can occur in chronic conditions, including some autoimmune diseases.

As an early responder, CRP is technically known as a positive acute phase reactant. Its level, measured from a blood sample, gives your doctor information about the presence of inflammation and how serious it is. However, CRP levels do not tell the doctor where in your body the inflammation is located or what is causing it.

High-sensitivity CRP testing is a different form of testing that identifies very low concentrations of CRP. Although both tests measure CRP, hs-CRP is considered a separate test with distinct uses.

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What To Do When The Crp Is High

After confirming high levels of CRP, the doctor will evaluate the results of other tests and assess the patients symptoms. From the moment the cause is identified, treatment can be started in a more focused and specific way.

When the patient shows signs of malaise without any other symptoms or specific risk factors, the doctor may request other exams, such as blood tumor marker tests or a CT scan, to check if increased levels of CRP are related to cancer.

When C-reactive protein levels are above 200 mg/L and an infection is confirmed, normally the person will be hospitalized to receive intravenous antibiotics. The CRP levels start to increase 6 hours after any infection starts and will usually start to lower after antibiotics. If CRP levels have not decreased after two days, it’s important that the doctor establish another treatment strategy.

How Are Normal And Elevated C

C-reactive protein is a marker of inflammation and is typically not detected in the blood unless some degree of inflammation is present in the body.

• CRP measurement is made using a blood sample from a vein. The sample is then taken to a laboratory and analyzed.
• The traditional CRP measurement is often used to detect inflammation in the body. Your health-care provider may order a C-reactive protein level to check for flare-ups of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or vasculitis or to monitor whether anti-inflammatory medications are working to treat a disease or condition.
• Currently, a more highly sensitive measurement to detect CRP is used for cardiovascular risk assessment. This high-sensitive C-reactive protein is termed hs-CRP.
• Because measuring CRP levels at any point in time may be influenced by any infection or inflammation in the body, onetime measurement is generally not regarded as an adequate predictor of cardiovascular risk. Therefore, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends checking two separate CRP levels approximately two weeks apart and using the average number of the two readings for cardiovascular risk assessment and screening purposes.

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How Does Crp Relate To Cardiovascular Risk

Your level of C-reactive protein can be an indicator of how at risk you are for developing cardiovascular problems. This is because the development of atherosclerosis is associated with inflammation within the vessel walls. The result is higher levels of CRP in patients with atherosclerosis than in those without atherosclerosis.

The value of knowing CRP levels depends on whether you fall into one of three cardiovascular risk groups:

• Low risk because of low cholesterol levels and little history of risk factors that is, no diabetes, high blood pressure, or smoking, and no family history of heart attacks at an early age. Even a higher level of CRP will probably not put you at a level of risk that requires than lifestyle changes.
• Intermediate risk helpful to know CRP level, because it can provide missing piece of information for physician deciding next step in treatment
• High risk not essential to know your CRP, because you should already be combining aggressive treatment with lifestyle changes to lower your risk

Who Performs A Crp Test

A healthcare provider, who is also called a phlebotomist, usually performs blood draws, including those for a C-Reactive protein blood test, but any healthcare provider trained in drawing blood can perform this task. The samples are sent to a lab where a medical laboratory scientist prepares the samples and performs the tests on analysers or manually.

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Can I Take The Test At Home

Options are available for at-home CRP testing. For most of these at-home inflammation tests, you collect a blood sample at home and then mail it to a laboratory where it can be analyzed.

The blood sample for at-home CRP tests is taken from your fingertip using a very small needle called a lancet. You then apply a drop of blood to a special test paper that is processed by the lab. Results are usually provided through a secure website or smartphone app.

At-home CRP tests can be purchased without a prescription, but it is generally best to consult with your doctor before taking an at-home CRP test. Your doctor can discuss the appropriateness of testing and help interpret any test results.

To Diagnose And Monitor Inflammation

The CRP test can be used to check for inflammation in your body. It is requested when your doctor suspects that you might have an inflammatory disorder. It does not show what is causing the inflammation or where the inflammation is located. It is requested for:

• diagnosis to check whether you have an inflammatory condition such as arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease or other autoimmune disorders
• monitoring if you have already been diagnosed with an inflammatory disorder, to monitor the disease and see how well your treatment is working. If your treatment is working well, and the inflammation lessens, the level of CRP in your blood will drop.

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Should I Be Concerned If My Crp Level Is Abnormal

If your CRP test results reveal that you have high levels of CRP, it doesnât necessarily mean that you have a medical condition that needs treatment, especially if theyre only slightly elevated. Several factors, such as smoking, recent injury and certain health conditions, can raise your CRP levels. There couldve also been an error in the collection, transport or processing of the test.

If you have an abnormal result, your healthcare provider will discuss your results with you. They may order additional tests to determine the cause of your abnormal CRP levels.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Seeing an abnormal test result can be stressful. Know that having an elevated CRP level doesnt necessarily mean you have a medical condition and need treatment. Approximately 1 in 20 healthy people will have results outside of the normal range. Your healthcare provider will let you know if you need to have further tests to determine the cause of the abnormal level. Dont be afraid to ask your provider questions. Theyre available to help you.

What Should I Expect During My Crp Test

You can expect to experience the following during a blood test, or blood draw:

• Youll sit in a chair, and a healthcare provider will check your arms for an easily accessible vein. This is usually in the inner part of your arm on the other side of your elbow.
• Once theyve located a vein, theyll clean and disinfect the area.
• Theyll then insert a small needle into your vein to take a blood sample. This may feel like a small pinch.
• After they insert the needle, a small amount of blood will collect in a test tube.
• Once they have enough blood to test, theyll remove the needle and hold a cotton ball or gauze on the site to stop the bleeding.
• Theyll place a bandage over the site, and youll be finished.

The entire procedure usually takes less than five minutes.

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What Causes High Crp Levels

High levels of C-reactive protein normally occur when there is some type of inflammatory or infectious process occurring in the body.

In some cases, the CRP amounts can indicate the gravity of the inflammation or infection:

• Between 3.0 to 10.0 mg/L: generally indicate mild inflammation or infection like gingivitis, flu or cold
• Between 10,0 to 40,0 mg/L: can be a sign of a moderate infection, such as chickenpox or respiratory infection
• More than 40 mg/L: generally indicate a more serious bacterial infection
• More than 200 mg/L: may indicate septicemia, a very serious situation that can be life threatening.

An increase in CRP levels can also signal chronic disease and so the doctor may prescribe other exams to evaluate what could be causing the CRP levels to increase.

How Is Osteomyelitis Managed Or Treated

A bone infection can take a long time to heal. The infection may clear up faster if you start treatment within three to five days of first noticing symptoms.

Treatments include:

• Antibiotics: Antibiotics kill infection-causing bacteria. You may need antibiotics for four to eight weeks, starting with intravenous antibiotics in the hospital for a week or two. Youll then take medications by mouth for several weeks. Chronic infections may require months of antibiotics.
• Antifungals: To treat fungal infections, you may need to take oral antifungal medications for months.
• Needle aspiration: Your healthcare provider uses a fine needle to drain fluid and pus from the abscess.
• Pain relievers: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs treat pain and inflammation.

Surgery is sometimes needed to treat bone infections. Youll need antibiotics after surgery. Surgical options include:

• Bone surgery: Your healthcare provider surgically removes infected dead tissue and bone. This procedure may result in bone deformities.
• Spine surgery: People with vertebral osteomyelitis may need spine surgery. This procedure keeps vertebrae from collapsing and damaging your spinal cord, nerves and other parts of your nervous system.

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What Happens During A Crp Test

A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This process usually takes less than five minutes.

How Does Deep Cleaning Treat Periodontitis

During a deep cleaning, your provider removes plaque. Providers use methods called scaling and root planing, which they may do with a laser:

• Scaling scrapes off the tartar from above and below the gum line.
• Root planing gets rid of the rough spots on the roots of the teeth. It helps remove the bacteria that cause periodontitis.

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What Do My Test Results Mean

Test results may vary depending on your age, gender, health history, and other things. Your test results may be different depending on the lab used. They may not mean you have a problem. Ask your healthcare provider what your test results mean for you.

The normal range for this test depends on the lab and the procedure used in the lab. Generally, a CRP level under 10 milligrams per liter is considered normal. If the level of CRP in your blood is higher than that, it may mean your body is having an inflammatory reaction to something. More tests will be needed to figure out what’s causing the inflammation.

What Is Crp Test

C-reactive protein test is also called CRP test, is a general blood test that checks for infection or inflammation in the body. C-reactive protein test is used to determine the severity of inflammation and to monitor whether you are responding to treatment. C-reactive protein 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 as well as following a heart attack, surgery, or trauma. Markedly increased C-reactive protein levels are observed, for example, after trauma or a heart attack , with active or uncontrolled autoimmune disorders, and with serious bacterial infections like sepsis. The level of CRP can jump as much as a thousand-fold in response to inflammatory conditions, and its rise in the blood can precede pain, fever, or other clinical indicators. Thus, C-reactive protein is one of several proteins that are often referred to as acute phase reactants. The C-reactive protein test measures the amount of CRP in the blood and can be valuable in detecting inflammation due to acute conditions or in monitoring disease activity in chronic conditions. However, CRP blood test does not show where the inflammation is in your body. A more sensitive form of the C-reactive protein test is called the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein , that is used to assess your risk of heart disease.

Key points

What is a normal C-reactive protein level?

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