About the TestPurpose of the testDoctors measure CRP because it is a marker of inflammation, which is part of the body’s fight against illness or injury. Your doctor might order a CRP test to:Check for infection if you have symptoms of inflammation such as fever, chills, redness or flushing, nausea, vomiting, rapid breathing, and/or rapid heart rate.Guide treatment of sepsis, a life-threatening complication where the body’s response to a bacterial infection triggers inflammation throughout the body.Monitor flare-ups of a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.Assess the treatment of a chronic inflammatory condition.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 body’s defenses....
