Included with every panel
Baseline labs come free with any panel you build.
Autoimmune & inflammation
C-Reactive Protein (CRP) test
Acute-phase protein that can rise with systemic inflammation. Included with every panel.
At a glance
In about 5 days
Most results are ready in about 5 days. Some specialty markers can take up to 21 days.
Check before your draw
This marker has no preparation tag, but it can still need preparation. Contact us before your draw if you’re not sure.
Walk in at Quest
Your lab order arrives by email. Most Quest locations take walk-ins, so bring it with a photo ID.
What it measures
CRP is a protein your liver can release when there’s inflammation in your body, such as from an infection, an injury, or a flare of an inflammatory condition. Levels can rise quickly and fall again as you get better.
Why it matters for women
Rheumatoid arthritis and some other inflammatory conditions are more common in women, and CRP can help track their flares as well as infections. Late pregnancy and estrogen birth control can raise it a little, which is worth knowing when reading a result.
You might check it if…
- you’ve had joint pain or swelling that won’t settle
- a doctor is tracking an inflammatory condition or infection
- you’ve been feeling run down with fevers or aches
What your result may mean
High C-Reactive Protein (CRP): what it may mean
High CRP may mean there's inflammation somewhere in your body, from an infection, an injury, surgery or a flare of a condition such as rheumatoid arthritis. It can rise within hours and fall as you recover, so it can help track an illness, but it can't show where the inflammation is. Late pregnancy, estrogen birth control, smoking and carrying extra weight can nudge it up a little, and preeclampsia may raise it as well. You may notice fever, pain, swelling or stiff joints, or you may feel fine.
Low C-Reactive Protein (CRP): what it may mean
Low CRP may mean there's little active inflammation in your body right now, and it may not be a concern on its own. It can't rule out every problem, because some conditions, such as lupus, can flare with only a small rise. CRP can also take hours to climb, so a test very early in an illness can read low. Steroids and other medicines that calm inflammation can lower it as well. If symptoms continue, a repeat test or a sed rate may help.
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These notes provide context and do not diagnose a condition. Not yet available in NY, NJ, RI, HI, ND, SD or WV.