The CRP (C-Reactive Protein) Blood Test measures the level of C-reactive protein in your blood — a protein produced mainly by the liver in response to inflammation. When your body faces infection, tissue injury, or an inflammatory condition, CRP can rise rapidly and significantly.

CRP is considered one of the most reliable general markers for inflammation. While it does not diagnose a single disease by itself, it helps doctors detect hidden inflammation, monitor chronic inflammatory conditions, and evaluate response to treatment.

At MCV Blood test (6565 Fannin St, Houston, TX 77030), CRP testing is performed using quality-controlled methods to support accurate clinical decision-making. Your report is designed to be easy to interpret alongside CBC, ESR, and other lab markers.

CRP is valuable because it can rise quickly — often within hours of inflammation starting — making it useful in early detection. Doctors use CRP to differentiate between mild illness and significant inflammation that may need urgent care.

CRP is also used for ongoing monitoring in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic infections, and for evaluating whether treatment is reducing inflammation.

When interpreted alongside ESR, CBC, ferritin, procalcitonin (when ordered), and clinical symptoms, CRP helps pinpoint whether inflammation is active and whether it is improving or worsening over time.

Elevated CRP: Can occur due to bacterial infections, pneumonia, urinary infections, autoimmune flare-ups (RA, lupus), inflammatory bowel disease, tissue injury, and other inflammatory conditions. CRP may also rise after surgery, trauma, or significant stress on the body.

Normal CRP: Suggests inflammation may be low or not active at the time of testing. However, early disease or localized inflammation can still exist, so doctors interpret CRP with symptoms and other tests (ESR, CBC, imaging).

Important: CRP is a non-specific marker. It helps confirm the presence of inflammation, but it does not identify the exact cause without additional clinical evaluation.

Infections: CRP helps assess severity and progress in bacterial infections such as pneumonia, skin infections, or urinary infections, and it is often used to monitor treatment response.

Rheumatoid Arthritis & Lupus: CRP trends may reflect inflammatory activity, especially when assessed alongside symptoms, ESR, and autoimmune markers.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s / Ulcerative Colitis): CRP can support monitoring of inflammation severity and response to therapy, alongside stool markers and imaging.

Cardiovascular Inflammation (hs-CRP): hs-CRP is used in risk stratification for heart disease when combined with cholesterol profile and overall clinical risk assessment.

Post-Operative Monitoring: CRP can help track recovery and identify complications when values remain elevated or increase unexpectedly after surgery (doctor interpretation required).

Chronic Inflammatory Conditions: Persistent elevated CRP may support further evaluation for chronic inflammatory diseases, infections, or other causes depending on symptoms and exam findings.

MCV Blood test is located at 6565 Fannin St, Houston, TX 77030, USA. We provide testing services in Houston and surrounding Texas areas and publish CRP test guidance for patients across the United States. If you are outside Houston, consult your local lab or physician for sample collection and use this page as a clinical education resource.

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